Donaldo Alvarez Ruiz studied law and qualified as a lawyer. He helped the military to set up a political party, the PID (Partido Institucional Democratico) in which he was to hold the position of Secretary General, before becoming a Member of Congress.
The Dictator-General Kjell Laugerud appointed him Minister of the Interior in 1976, with responsibility for domestic security, with the additional role as Minister of Police and Secret Police. In 1978, he was reconfirmed in this function by the new Dictator-General Romeo Lucas Garcia.(1978-1982).
After the coup d’état by General Rios Montt (see “related cases”) in 1982, he took up residence in Mexico.
Alvarez Ruiz is well known for having organised “death squadrons” and for drawing up lists of people to be tortured and made to disappear.
