Bolivia protests turn violent as police clash with demonstrators in La Paz and Santa Cruz

Mass protests against President Rodrigo Paz Pereira intensified on the 41st day of the crisis, with thousands of farmers, miners and workers marching from El Alto to Plaza Murillo in La Paz. Police responded with tear gas and other crowd‑control measures, and detained several demonstrators, including union leader Vicente Salazar. The unrest has disrupted fuel, food and medicine supplies and driven up prices across the country.

In the eastern department of Santa Cruz, police and military units attempted to reopen a blocked road near the village of San Julián. Clashes erupted, leaving six police officers injured – four reportedly by gunfire – and 14 civilians wounded. The road, a key route for food transport, was only partially reopened after the confrontation. The demonstrations, which began in early May, continue to demand the president's resignation and have caused widespread road blockades, contributing to shortages in La Paz, El Alto and other regions.