Mexican President Says Surveillance Activity at Embassy in Bolivia Reduced After Complaint

MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Tuesday, a day after the Foreign Ministry issued a statement about the excessive presence of security personnel around its embassy in Bolivia, that the surveillance activity was a violation of international law and therefore was reduced.

"There was a statement by the Foreign Ministry expressing our discontent, and I have information that the excessive activity of intelligence [services] around our embassy in Bolivia has significantly decreased", Obrador said at a press conference broadcast on his Twitter.

On Monday, the Mexican Foreign Ministry expressed deep concerns about the many Bolivian intelligence and security officers monitoring Mexico's embassy in La Paz and attempts to detain and inspect the ambassador's vehicle. Foreign Minister of Bolivia's interim government Karen Longaric, in turn, assured that the immunity of the diplomatic mission was respected and that security officers were monitoring people who sought asylum in Mexico.

Under pressure to resign from the protesting public and nation's military, Bolivian President Evo Morales stepped down from his fourth term in office on 10 November and fled to Mexico. Most of Bolivia’s senior government officials also resigned and sought asylum in the Mexican embassy in La Paz.

Former Bolivian President Evo Morales, who was granted asylum in Mexico, looks up toward a video playing on a screen during a press conference in Mexico City, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019.

© AP Photo / Rebecca Blackwell

In the meantime, the Senate's second vice speaker, Jeanine Anez, declared herself interim president at an extraordinary session in Parliament that was boycotted by Morales’ socialist party. Due to the boycott, the quorum necessary to legitimise Anez was not met, however, Bolivia’s highest court has recognised her as interim president, with Morales later characterising the situation as a coup.