During a hearing of the trial he faces, the coup plotter Pedro Castillo gave a public greeting to Claudia Sheinbaum, for granting diplomatic asylum to Bettsy Chavezformer prime minister of this country and who is also being investigated for the failed coup d’état of December 7, 2022.
However, his intervention was interrupted by Judge Norma Carbajal, who called him out for exceeding the time allotted for his statement.
Castillo expressed that the Mexican decision represented “unrestricted respect for the rights of diplomatic channels” and cited articles of international law and the Caracas Convention to support his comment. The reaction generated surprise in the room, given that the judge had indicated to him that his speaking turn was ending.
“My greeting to Sister President Claudia Sheinbaum of the Republic of Mexico for her unrestricted respect for diplomatic rights (…) In the OAS declaration in articles 2, 4 and 12, as well as in the Political Constitution in article 36…”, Castillo managed to express before he was interrupted by Judge Carbajal.
The Peruvian Government reacted firmly. Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was reported that the granting of asylum to Chávez, who is being prosecuted for his alleged involvement in the failed attempt to dissolve Congress in December 2022, constitutes a diplomatic act that “violates national sovereignty.” That same day the breaking of diplomatic relations with Mexico was announced.
Bettsy Chávez, who is at the Mexican embassy residence in Lima, is accused of conspiracy and rebellion for her role in what is considered an attempted coup d’état. The asylum request comes at a time when she is required to attend final hearings of her judicial process and when the Prosecutor’s Office is asking for up to 25 years in prison for her.
LAWYER RESIGNATION
Luis Roberto Barranzuela, lawyer for the former president of the Council of Ministers Betssy Chávez, resigned from his legal defense after learning that his client was granted asylum by Mexico.
The lawyer’s decision was announced during the hearing of the oral trial against Chávez Chino for the alleged crime of rebellion. Given this, he reported that his client stopped communicating with him.
“Madam Magistrate, I wanted to cause an incident. It is public knowledge that the young lady has been granted asylum in the embassy of the United Mexican States. In this sense, I want to record that we have tried to communicate with Miss Betssy Chávez until yesterday, without obtaining a response. Consequently, I could not continue with the defense, although I will remain until the public defense is appointed,” he said.
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