Ruth López, a prominent anti-corruption lawyer in El Salvador, was arrested by authorities on Sunday night, according to a statement from her employer, a local human rights organization. The attorney general's office confirmed the arrest but the specific reasons for her detention remain unclear, with no formal charges filed against her as of Monday. López has been a vocal critic of President Nayib Bukele's administration, particularly regarding its alleged corruption and governance malpractice.
Her recent apprehension has been linked to her former work alongside Eugenio Chicas, a magistrate and previous government figure who was arrested in February on charges of illicit enrichment. The attorney general’s office accused López of being involved in misappropriating public funds, which has been met with widespread condemnation from human rights organizations and legal experts both within El Salvador and internationally.
The alarming situation highlights concerns over the increasing suppression of dissent in El Salvador, exacerbated by Bukele's close ties with former President Trump, particularly following agreements to detain migrants sent back from the United States. Many view López’s arrest as a troubling indication of Bukele's intensified campaign against critics and activists in the country, signaling a dangerous turn in the nation's defense of democratic values and human rights.
