The deputies of the National Unit of Hope (UNE) reported this Tuesday, October 5, that they filed a criminal complaint against the former Minister of Health, Amelia Flores, for five crimes that according to them she committed by allowing Russia to comply with the purchase contract Sputnik V.
The congressmen offered a press conference in which they reported that the purchase contract with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), through Human Vaccine LLC, stipulated that October 5 would be the date on which Guatemala would receive the total of doses purchased and that did not happen.
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Orlando Blanco, head of the UNE bench, affirmed that the complaint against Flores is for the crimes of abuse of authority, embezzlement for theft, fraud, resolution violating the Constitution and violation of the Political Constitution of Guatemala.
He explained that the complaint is in the framework of the breach of the contract by Russia and recalled that during the last six months as a bench they announced that there was an important date in the agreement, which expired on October 5.
According to the deputies, the former minister Flores allowed that contract to be breached and for that reason they acted criminally.
#Congress | The @UNEBancada files a criminal complaint against the former Minister of Health, Amelia Flores, for the “non-compliance” of various aspects in the negotiation with Russia for the purchase of Sputnik V vaccines. @free Press @Guatevision_tv pic.twitter.com/IvrA8FTgHO
— Henry Montenegro (@hmontenegro_GTV) October 5, 2021
The contract with Sputnik V
Guatemala initially ordered 16 million doses of its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine from Russia and last April paid about $ 79.6 million for half of the purchase. However, the delay in deliveries caused the country to propose the return of the money.
After the controversy, Guatemala and Russia agreed in July to specify only the purchase of 8 million vaccines, which the country had already paid for, and it was reported by President Alejandro Giammattei and the then Minister Flores that the deliveries of the doses would conclude in December 2021.
So far, Guatemala has received 2,660,000 doses. This represents 33.25% of the vaccines purchased from Russia, which is 8 million doses.
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