The Third Chamber of the Court of Appeals extended the preventive detention against Luis Haroldo Pacheco Gutiérrez and Héctor Samuel Chaclán Batz, who have been detained since April 2025, after leading protests in defense of the 2023 electoral results, it was reported this Thursday, April 23.
The resolution establishes that the measure must be maintained and authorizes the extension of the period of deprivation of liberty until September 23, 2026, with the argument of guaranteeing the presence of the defendants within the criminal process.
According to the Court, after analyzing the actions and meeting the legal requirements, it was determined that preventive detention should continue. The current term expired on April 22, 2026.
The judicial decision comes amid new protests by the indigenous organization 48 Cantones of Totonicapán, whose members demanded the release of both leaders, one year after their capture.
Dozens of protesters gathered in front of the Public Ministry and then walked towards the Constitutional Court and the National Palace of Culture, where they were received by President Bernardo Arévalo de León.
The participants denounced an alleged criminalization of peaceful resistance and rejected the use of the crime of terrorism against indigenous authorities.
“Peaceful resistance is not terrorism and the fight for democracy is not criminalized with ambiguous penal figures,” said Salvador Xec, indigenous authority of the 14 Communities of San Cristóbal Totonicapán.
Pacheco, current Vice Minister of Energy and Mines, was one of the main leaders of the 2023 demonstrations that demanded the resignation of the Attorney General, Consuelo Porras Argueta, accused of trying to prevent the inauguration of Arévalo de León.
The president stated that the detainees are accused of crimes that “they did not commit” and described their capture as retaliation for having defended democracy.
Furthermore, he indicated that the case is part of a series of persecution actions against different sectors, including judges, journalists and human rights defenders.
The protesters also pointed out that the judicial process is intentionally delayed to keep the two indigenous leaders in prison.
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