life partner. 28 In 1970, Mr. Flores Bedregal entered Medical School 29 and subsequently changed his major to Economics. 30 He began his activism in the Revolutionary Workers Party ("POR") 31 in 1973. In 1979, he was elected as alternate Congressman for the Department of Chuquisaca, under the Democratic and Popular Unity party lists, and was sworn in as congressman in November 1979. 32 39. In 1980, as leader of his party and congressman in office, he was part of the National Committee for the Defense of Democracy (hereinafter "CONADE"), an entity composed of the Bolivian Workers' Federation (hereinafter "COB"), political parties, religious organizations, the Permanent Assembly for Human Rights, and other civic-popular entities. B. Facts of July 17, 1980 and the attempts to find the whereabouts of Juan Carlos Flores Bedregal 40. As it has been recognized by the State and established by this Court in a previous case, 33 in July 1980 there was a coup d'état in Bolivia, led by General Luis García Meza Tejada. In this context, on July 17, 1980, the Presidential Palace was taken by military forces and the acting Constitutional President, Lidia Gueiler, was obliged to resign from office. The Military Junta assumed the functions of the executive, legislative, and judicial powers and also exercised the constituent power. 34 On that same date, as part of Operation "Hornet," military and paramilitary forces attacked and occupied the COB [Bolivian Workers' Federation] building where CONADE [National Committee for the Defense of Democracy] was meeting. 35 41. It is an undisputed fact that Juan Carlos Flores Bedregal was in the COB at the time of the incursion. 36 The attackers drove CONADE leaders, including Juan Carlos Flores Bedregal, out of the building with their hands on the back of their necks 37. It is alleged that the assailants recognized the political leader and deputy Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz, 38 who they separated from the group in order to execute him. According to the affidavit of witness Eduardo 28 Adela Hortensia Villamil was not a petitioner in complaint P-616/06 before the Inter-American Commission, nor is she party to this case before the Court. It has been noted that Adela Hortensia Villamil was constituted as a petitioner before the Commission through the claim registered under number P-1186/09 and processed separately from the petition previously presented by the Flores Bedregal sisters. As a result of the said petition, Mrs. Villamil and the State reached an agreement on the granting of a pension and other reparations, in exchange for the withdrawal of the claim. Said agreement was not approved by the Commission because it was inconsistent with the findings of fact and law of the Merits Report No. 60/18 in the instant case. 29 Cf. Statement of Verónica Flores Bedregal rendered by affidavit on March 3, 2020 (case file evidence, p. 8926 to 8957), and Publication entitled "Unfinished letter to my brother Carlos," authored by Olga Flores Bedregal (case file evidence, p. 120-206). 30 Cf. Statement of Lilian Teresa Flores Bedregal rendered by affidavit on March 5, 2020 (case file evidence, p. 8959-8982). 31 Cf. Statements by Lilian Teresa and Verónica Flores Bedregal, supra, and Publication entitled "Unfinished letter to my brother Carlos," supra. 32 Cf. Publication titled "Unfinished letter to my brother Carlos," supra. 33 Cfr. Case of Ticona Estrada et al. v. Bolivia. Merits, Reparations, and Costs. Judgment of November 27, 2008. Series C No. 191. 34 Cfr. Case of Ticona Estrada et al. v. Bolivia, supra, para. 46. 35 Cfr. Judgment of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation of April 15, 1993, issued in the cumulative Suits for Damages pursued by the Public Prosecutor and its interveners against Luis García Meza Tejada and his collaborators (case file evidence, p. 8-111). 36 The judicial authorities determined that the alleged victim was at the headquarters of the COB at the time of the armed assault on July 17, 1980, in the context of the coup d’état. National deputy and socialist leader Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz and deputy Juan Carlos Flores Bedregal were meeting at the COB. These facts were not contested by the State. Cfr. Order 129/2007 of the Second Circuit Criminal Court of the District of La Paz, of December 12, 2007. Trial against Franz Pizarro Solano and others for the crimes of armed uprising against the security and sovereignty of the State et al. (case file evidence, p. 210-252). 37 Cfr. Judgment of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation of April 15, 1993, supra. 38 References to the facts relating to Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz are part of the background and context of the instant case and do not constitute any legal analysis or determination by the Court. 13