Costa Rican activist denies plot to assassinate President Rodrigo Chaves

A Costa Rican activist and government critic accused of plotting to kill President Rodrigo Chaves said Wednesday that the allegations were ridiculous and politically motivated Chaves appeared Wednesday with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele at a groundbreaking for a new prison styled after El Salvadors infamous gang prisonCosta Ricas national security chief Jorge Torres had told prosecutors Tuesday that a hitman allegedly received a payment to assassinate the president but details of the case were not publicly revealed at the time Hours later local media published screenshots of messages Torres included in his complaint against activist Stella Chinchilla supposedly showing her complaining to alleged hitmen that they hadnt done their jobChinchilla vice president of the human rights advocacy group Friends for Peace Center said in an interview with The Associated Press that she appeared Wednesday before the Public Ministry to hear details of the case She confirmed that the screenshots were part of the case but said they were fake and that she was being targeted because of her criticism of Chaves administration on social mediaI have not written a single comma of what is there Chinchilla said Morally I would not order the killing of this president he has to leave on his own feet from the government and the country because he has done too much damage She said that media outlets aligned with Chaves had access to the alleged evidence before it had even been received by prosecutors and that the accusations were part of broader government harassmentThe presidents office said on Tuesday night hat his security had been reinforced This is not a minor warning nor speculation it is a serious threat to the countrys democratic stability said Jeffrey Cerdas head of presidential security The accusation came as Chaves hosted Bukele who has gained fame and notoriety abroad and popularity in his country for his heavyhanded crackdown on criminal gangsThe two leaders attended the groundbreaking Wednesday of a new prison modeled on Bukeles megaprison built for alleged gang members Chaves has sent Costa Rican officials to El Salvador to learn more about how to emulate Bukeles style of law enforcement We had a failed state Bukele said Wednesday When we arrived we had to change everything courts judges prosecutors laws Congress in the elections of courseBukele said the gang prison he built was a pillar of the fight against crime He said El Salvadors other prisons had become training grounds for criminals He applauded Chaves for following his example and Chaves thanked him for sharing his prisons design If criminality grows more Costa Ricans will die but not just that will happen Bukele said They way of life will change tourism will disappear and all of the foreign currency that comes with it Tourists are not going to come to country where they kill you for crossing the streetCosta Rica is experiencing a serious security crisis attributed to drug trafficking gangs that have led historic high homicide rates The year 2025 ended with 877 homicides just three fewer than in 2024 while 2023 recorded the highest figure with 907 killingsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever