During the hearing held this Tuesday, November 4, former president Pedro Castillo was abruptly interrupted when he began to greet the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, in relation to the granting of political asylum to former Prime Minister Betssy Chávez. According to Castillo, Mexico He had shown “unrestricted respect for diplomatic rights” by granting protection to the former prime minister but his microphone was cut off before he could finish his speech.
“Good morning, my greetings to Sister President Claudia of the Republic of Mexico for her unrestricted respect for the rights of diplomatic channels. In the OAS declaration in articles 2, 4 and 12, as well as the Political Constitution in article 36…”, the former president was able to say.
The microphone was cut off by the magistrate Norma Carbajal while the former president spoke his words in the hearing room of the Barbadillo Prison. Castlewho is being investigated for the failed coup attempt on December 7, 2022, tried to finish his words even though he was interrupted but the judge continued with the corresponding accreditations. Betssy Chávez’s lawyer, Luis Barranzuela, who was present through the virtual platform, stated that “it would have been interesting to let the former president finish with his words.”
Betssy Chávez, who was Minister of Labor and then president of the Council of Ministers during the Castillo government, also faces the same trial as former president Castillo. The Public Ministry is requesting a sentence of up to twenty-five years in prison against him for his alleged involvement in the failed coup attempt.
In the last four hearings, Chávez was absent on more than three occasions, one of them with a medical certificate whose authenticity was questioned by the magistrates and which caused the expulsion from the process of one of his lawyers, Raúl Noblecilla, in addition to being sanctioned with two months of professional suspension for presenting inconsistent documentation.
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Safe passage of Betssy Chávez will be decided in “short days,” says Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru, Hugo de Zelareported that the Foreign Ministry is carrying out studies on the possible issuance of a safe conduct for former Prime Minister Betssy Chávezafter the embassy of Mexico granted him asylum on November 3.
“It is up to the Peruvian government to provide a response. What we are doing are legal studies, through the legal area of the Foreign Ministry, to be able to offer a response to the Mexican government. This happened just yesterday afternoon, so the studies have just begun,” he explained in an interview with Canal N.
Asked about the time it would take to make a decision, the chancellor indicated that “in a few short days the report would be ready” on the issuance of the safe passage. However, he avoided specifying whether the period would be less than three days. “I do not dare to set a deadline, this is not a mathematical issue, it is a legal issue that requires seriousness,” he stressed, confirming that the former congresswoman remains in asylum at the residence of the Mexican embassy.
When asked about precedents, De Zela recalled that, in 1950, Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre was denied safe passage when he was requested by the Colombian government.
