Editing Augusto Pinochet (section)

==Post-Dictatorship and Legal Battles==
After leaving power, Pinochet faced legal challenges for his regime’s atrocities but avoided conviction.
	•	Legal Accountability:
	◦	In 1998, Pinochet was arrested in London on a Spanish warrant for human rights violations, including the murder of Spanish citizens. Detained for 16 months, he was released in 2000 on health grounds and returned to Chile.
	◦	Chilean courts pursued cases against him, stripping his immunity in 2004. By 2006, he faced charges for murder, kidnapping, and tax evasion, with over $28 million in secret bank accounts uncovered. Failing health prevented trials.
	•	International Context: Pinochet’s prosecution was part of a broader push for accountability in Latin America, influenced by [[Operation Condor]] revelations and global human rights campaigns. His ties to U.S.-backed operations, including CIA support, were scrutinized in declassified documents.