Eduardo Savoia, charge d’affaires at the Brazilian embassy in La Paz, admitted yesterday that he helped the Bolivian opposition senator, Roger Pinto, to escape to Brazil, where he was granted political asylum.
“I chose life. I chose to protect a person, a political persecute, as President Dilma Rousseff was persecuted” said Saboia to Brazilian TV Globo.
Saboia acknowledged he acted without authorization from his bosses because Pinto, who took refuge for 455 days in the embassy, was depressed and threatening to commit suicide.
“I decided to talk to the press and say that I made the decision to conduct this operation because there was an imminent risk to the life and dignity of a person,” said the diplomat.
The escape occurred on board of a car of the Brazilian embassy escorted by Brazilian marines. He traveled 1500 miles by land and crossed the border without the knowledge of the Bolivian authorities, although he had to pass several controls, the laws prevent the search of diplomatic vehicles.
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