Peru’s Attorney General Patricia Benavides on Friday ordered the opening of a criminal investigation into President Dina Boluarte and several officials in her government over the deaths of at least 28 people due to repression by the army and national police during demonstrations on December 2022.
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According to prosecutors, the case deals with Defense Minister Alberto Otárola, the current prime minister, and Interior Minister César Cervantes during the December protests.
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��#FiscalíaInforma:
The nation’s public prosecutor’s office initiated a pre-trial on the complaints filed against the President of the Republic, Dina Boluarte; Alberto Otárola, in his capacity as Minister of Defence; César Cervantes, former Interior Minister and others. pic.twitter.com/PPVjR2Y2KB– Public Service (@FiscaliaPeru)
January 6, 2023
The case stems from the complaint filed by lawyers Abimael Méndez Conde, Yuri Martínez Ochoa, Víctor Porras Rivera and Jack Diburga Cuba before the Prosecutor’s Office for Human Rights, Intercultural Affairs and Terrorism of the Ayacucho Region.
The complaint also links police commanders, including Ayacucho Police Macro-Region Head, PNP General Antero Mejía Escajadillp, and Ayacucho Second Military Infantry Brigade Commander-General, EP General Jesús Vera Ipenza, among others.
The complaints aim to investigate the deaths that occurred during the December 2022 demonstrations.
– Public Service (@FiscaliaPeru)
January 6, 2023
When President Boluarte learned of the case against her, he welcomed the Attorney General’s decision “to clarify the facts without delay”.
Boluarte previously stated that deaths from repression should not go unpunished but dismissed his alleged responsibility and accused extremist groups of encouraging violence at demonstrations.
She also pledges to provide all the appropriate facilities for the timely clarification of the facts, as she has repeatedly requested.
— Presidency of Peru ���� (@presidenciaperu)
January 6, 2023
During the pre-trial, the prosecutor’s office will gather information from state agencies to find out in detail the events that occurred during the suppression of the marches in the regions of Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Arequipa and other areas of the country vacancy of former President Pedro Castle.
Prosecutor’s sources do not rule out that the military and police chiefs in command in the areas where the violent deaths took place should be summoned to testify.
The preliminary inquiry can take a maximum of 60 days. According to the information gathered, prosecutor Benavides will order the opening of a preliminary or preparatory investigation against President Dina Boluarte or any of the ministers involved.