The Attorney General of Honduras has issued an international arrest warrant for former president Juan Orlando Hernandez, recently released from prison in the USA.

The Attorney General of Honduras, Johel Antonio Zelaya, announced on Monday the issuance of an international arrest warrant for former President Juan Orlando Hernandez, thus intensifying the legal and political turmoil after Hernandez was released from a prison in the U.S., where he served a 45-year sentence. Hernandez, who was extradited in 2022, has been accused by prosecutors in New York of turning Honduras into a "narco-state" and playing a central role in drug trafficking. He is also being investigated in Honduras for embezzling over 12 million dollars from public funds for his political campaign. Donald Trump's decision to grant clemency to Hernandez was made in the context of the presidential elections in Honduras, where Hernandez's supported candidate, Nasry 'Tito' Asfura, gained an advantage in votes. Hernandez will not return immediately to Honduras for safety reasons, being in a "safe place" in the U.S. International observers have called on authorities to expedite the vote counting process and ensure its integrity.