The former prime minister of Pedro Castillo’s Government and accused of rebellion, Betssy Chávezis isolated in the embassy of Mexico in Peru. This was confirmed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hugo de Zela. “We have learned with surprise. Former Prime Minister Betsy Chávez is being sheltered in the residence of the Mexican embassy in Peru,” the chancellor declared at a press conference. As detailed by the head of the Foreign Affairs portfolio, this information was confirmed in the Foreign Ministry a few hours before its announcement.
De Zela considered that this fact causes a break in the diplomatic relations between Peru and Mexico: “Faced with this act, and taking into account the repeated interventions of the previous president in the internal affairs of Peru, the Peruvian government has decided to break diplomatic relations with Mexico,” he indicated. Furthermore, the chancellor pointed out that the Mexican government, since the presidency of the former president Manuel López Obradorhas been promoting a “parallel reality,” fostering a narrative that is incoherent with the events that occurred on December 7, when Pedro Castillo tried to close the Congress of the Republic.
“They have tried to convert the authors of the attempted coup d’état into victims, when reality shows that Peruvians live and want to continue living in democracy, as recognized by all countries in the world, with the sole and solitary exception of Mexico. Even in recent times, the president of Mexico has made unacceptable and false statements when stating that Pedro Castillo is a politically persecuted person. With this act, he now intends to maintain that the accomplice of Pedro Castillo“Betssy Chávez is also a persecuted politician,” he noted. From Zela as you continue with your dissertation.
However, De Zela mentioned that Chávez’s asylum will only remain in the political arena and will not interfere with the situation of the Peruvians living in Mexico: “The fact that we have broken diplomatic relations with Mexico does not mean that we have broken consular relations; consequently, our compatriots in Mexico will continue under the protection of our consul in that country just as Mexicans living in Peru will continue under the protection of the Mexican consular authorities in our country,” he noted.
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Betssy Chávez is prevented from leaving the country for 10 months
At the end of last September, provisional supreme judge Edhin Campos Barranzuela, of the Judicial Branch, imposed a preventing Betssy Chávez from leaving the country for a period of 10 months. This measure was requested by the supreme prosecutor Zoraida Ávalos in the framework of the investigations into the attempted coup d’état.
The request came after the decision of the Constitutional Court to annul the preventive detention of Chávez Chino and order his release, after he spent eight days in the Penal Annex Women of Chorrillos. The former minister was able to access this freedom thanks to the habeas corpus presented by her defense. Currently, she is under restrictive measures that include the prohibition of leaving Lima without judicial authorization, weekly biometric control and the obligation to appear before the judicial or fiscal authority when required.
The Prosecutor’s Office has requested sentences of 26 years for Chávez and 34 years for Castillo, as well as disqualification from public service for three years and six months. During the hearing, it was indicated that the oral trial could conclude this year, while the exit prevention measure will remain in place until September 2026.
The Prosecutor’s Office had requested that Betssy Chávez not approach diplomatic headquarters in Peru
The Prosecutor’s Office had requested the Judiciary impose new restrictive measures against the former minister of Pedro Castillo weeks before the chancellor’s announcement about his whereabouts. He Public Ministry He requested that he be prohibited from going to any diplomatic headquarters located in the country, maintaining a radius of at least 500 meters away. The request sought to limit their movements and prevent possible actions that would hinder the development of judicial investigations against them. However, this request would not have been resolved yet.
In addition, the Second Supreme Prosecutor’s Office Specialized in Crimes Committed by Public Officials has requested that Chávez Chino not maintain communication with ambassadors, ministers, presidents or other foreign politicians, as well as with the co-defendants and witnesses in the case for which he is accused. The prosecutor’s request was based on article 287 of the Criminal Procedure Code, with the objective of avoiding a possible danger of escape or interference in the search for the truth.
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Internationalist on asylum for Betssy Chávez: “Peru does not have much to do, it must fulfill its international commitments”
The internationalist and professor of International Relations at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP), Oscar Vidartepointed out through his X account (formerly Twitter) that the case of Betssy Chavez It presents several nuances that are worth analyzing.
“Betssy Chávez is not a politically persecuted person; she is being tried for her participation in the coup d’état of former President Pedro Castillo. According to the 1954 Convention, diplomatic asylum should not be granted to someone who is prosecuted for a crime. However, behind her detention there were also excesses, to the point that Chavez himself Constitutional Court determined his release due to arbitrary detention. In addition, there are unaddressed complaints of violence, harassment and corruption that would have affected her, which is the responsibility of the Peruvian State,” he noted.
The internationalist assured that this situation forces the Peru to fulfill its commitments as a State party to international conventions: “Peru does not have much to claim, since ‘every State has the right to grant asylum’, with the asylum State being the one that determines the nature of the persecution. Once asylum is granted, ‘the State The asylum seeker may request the departure of the asylum seeker to foreign territory, and the territorial State is obliged to comply. “Peru must respect its international commitments,” he said.
Vidarte also considered that this new episode in relations between Peru and the United Mexican States could have future consequences for our country: “This break in relations can affect a weakened Pacific Alliance. Furthermore, if due to the breakup the Mexican representatives must leave Peru, they could leave the country with Betssy Chávez or hand her over to a third country,” he concluded.
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Why is Betssy Chávez being investigated?
Betssy Chávez is accused of her alleged participation in the attempted coup d’état powered by Pedro Castillo on December 7, 2022. The National Prosecutor’s Office requests a sentence of 26 years of prison for her, for the crime of rebellion, framed according to article 287 of the Peruvian Penal Code.
As the process progressed, the Constitutional CourtHe declared her preventive detention “arbitrary”, considering it prolonged without the proper court order – she was deprived of liberty for eight days without a warrant – which is why he ordered her release to face trial in freedom.
