(Washington, DC) \u2013\u00a0Guatemalan authorities should carry out a thorough, prompt, and credible investigation into the killing of Juan Francisco Sol\u00f3rzano Foppa, a prominent anti-corruption lawyer, former prosecutor, and former head of Guatemala\u2019s tax agency, Human Rights Watch said today.
On October 17, 2026,\u00a0armed assailants shot and killed Sol\u00f3rzano Foppa at the Campo Marte sports complex in Guatemala City. Another man, identified by authorities as Gustavo Adolfo Aguilar Gamarro, was also killed in the attack. Guatemalan authorities arrested two men in connection with the crime, but\u00a0prosecutors said there was no evidence linking them to the attack and a judge ordered their release.\u00a0
\u201cThe killing of Juan Francisco Sol\u00f3rzano Foppa is a shocking attack against a lawyer who played a prominent role in some of Guatemala\u2019s most important anti-corruption efforts,\u201d said\u00a0Juanita Goebertus, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. \u201cGuatemalan authorities should ensure a thorough, prompt, and credible investigation capable of identifying not only the gunmen, but also anyone who planned, ordered, or facilitated this crime.\u201d
Armed attackers opened fire on Sol\u00f3rzano Foppa while he was at the sports complex coaching a football team, killing him at the scene, media reported. President Bernardo Ar\u00e9valo\u00a0condemned the killing and called for those responsible, including any who played a role in planning the crime, to be brought to justice.
Sol\u00f3rzano Foppa, 43, was widely known for his anti-corruption work in Guatemala. He served as director of criminal analysis within the attorney general\u2019s office and later led Guatemala\u2019s Superintendency of Tax Administration, from 2016 to 2018. He helped advance investigations into high-level corruption and tax evasion, contributing to efforts to recover millions in unpaid taxes and supporting major corruption cases, including work related to the criminal case known as \u201cLa L\u00ednea\u201d (\u201cThe Line\u201d), which led to the resignation of President Otto P\u00e9rez Molina in 2015.
After leaving public office, Sol\u00f3rzano Foppa continued to work as a lawyer and public commentator. He was known for denouncing corruption and links between criminal groups, politicians, and authorities.\u00a0
In 2023, he briefly joined the legal defense team of the well-known journalist Jos\u00e9 Rub\u00e9n Zamora, who has faced\u00a0arbitrary criminal prosecution since 2022. During Attorney General Consuelo Porras\u2019s tenure, a campaign of arbitrary criminal prosecutions against critics included the detention of Sol\u00f3rzano Foppa, who was accused of \u201chindering criminal investigations\u201d in connection with his defense of Zamora. Sol\u00f3rzano Foppa said\u00a0the prosecution was arbitrary and pleaded guilty to obtain an early release.
\u201cSol\u00f3rzano Foppa\u2019s killing is a chilling reminder of Guatemala\u2019s long history of political murders,\u201d Goebertus said. \u201cThose responsible should be held accountable.\u201d
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