Activist in Costa Rica denies plotting to assassinate the president

Costa Rican activist denies alleged assassination plot against President Chaves amid growing political tensions

A Costa Rican human rights activist has vehemently denied accusations that she plotted to assassinate President Rodrigo Chaves, describing the allegations as “ridiculous” and politically motivated in what appears to be an escalating conflict between government critics and the administration.

Stella Chinchilla, vice president of the human rights advocacy group Friends for Peace Center, appeared before the Public Ministry on Wednesday to hear details of the case after Costa Rica’s national security chief Jorge Torres filed a complaint claiming a hitman had received payment to assassinate the president.

“I have not written a single comma of what is there,” Chinchilla told The Associated Press, referring to screenshots of messages that allegedly showed her complaining to hitmen about not completing their task. “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.”

Chinchilla suggested the evidence was fabricated and noted that media outlets aligned with Chaves had access to the alleged evidence even before prosecutors received it, raising questions about the integrity of the investigation. She characterized the accusations as part of a broader pattern of government harassment against critics.

The accusations emerged as Chaves hosted El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, who joined him at a groundbreaking ceremony for a new prison modeled after El Salvador’s controversial mega-prison for gang members. Following the announcement of the alleged assassination plot, the president’s office stated that Chaves’ security had been reinforced.

“This is not a minor warning, nor speculation; it is a serious threat to the country’s democratic stability,” said Jeffrey Cerdas, head of presidential security, underscoring the gravity with which the administration is treating the situation.

The timing of these allegations coincides with Chaves’ increasing embrace of Bukele’s heavy-handed approach to law enforcement. Costa Rican officials have visited El Salvador to study Bukele’s methods, which have sparked international concern over human rights violations despite their popularity within El Salvador.

At Wednesday’s prison groundbreaking ceremony, Bukele championed his controversial tactics, saying, “We had a failed state. When we arrived we had to change everything, courts, judges, prosecutors, laws, Congress, in the elections, of course.” He described his mega-prison as a “pillar” of crime-fighting efforts and warned Costa Rica that unchecked criminality would devastate its vital tourism industry.

The security situation in Costa Rica has deteriorated significantly in recent years. The country ended 2025 with 877 homicides, just slightly fewer than the 880 recorded in 2024, while 2023 saw the highest figure with 907 killings. This unprecedented violence has been largely attributed to drug trafficking gangs operating in the historically peaceful nation.

The alleged assassination plot and Chaves’ growing affinity for Bukele’s controversial methods reflect Costa Rica’s struggle to address its security crisis while maintaining its democratic traditions. The country, long considered Central America’s most stable democracy, now faces challenging questions about the balance between security measures and civil liberties.

Political analysts note that tensions between Chaves’ administration and civil society organizations have been building since he took office, with critics accusing him of increasingly authoritarian tendencies. Chinchilla’s case may represent a significant escalation in this political conflict, potentially signaling a more confrontational approach toward government critics.

As the investigation proceeds, many Costa Ricans are watching closely to see whether evidence substantiating the assassination claims will emerge or if, as Chinchilla contends, the accusations represent political persecution of government critics during a period of increasing security concerns and political polarization.