Former Peruvian President Kenya Fujimori regains freedom after 16 years in prison for human rights violations

(Reuters, Lima, 6th) Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori was sentenced to 25 years in prison for human rights violations during his 10-year rule in the 1990s. He has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after the Constitutional Court yesterday reinstated the controversial 2017 amnesty order. He was released this evening.

Despite criticism from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IAHR) and the victims’ families, Peru’s highest-ranking Constitutional Court yesterday ruled on humanitarian grounds to resume the pardon appeal against 85-year-old Kenya Fujimori.

Kenya Fujimori has been in prison for about 16 years since he was extradited from Chile in 2007.

After Peru’s National Penitentiary Institute ordered Kenya Fujimori’s “immediate release”, local TV stations captured him leaving the prison and getting into a car live.

Local television footage showed a group of supporters and reporters pushing the car carrying Kenya Fujimori as it tried to leave the prison on the outskirts of Lima.

Earlier today, Catalina Ponce, a supporter of Kenya Fujimori, who was waiting outside the prison, said: “It’s time to end the injustice suffered by Kenya Fujimori. Thanks to him, our country can stand on its own feet.”

Kenya Fujimori’s supporters credit him with saving Peru from terrorism or economic collapse. But critics say he abused democracy and committed atrocities during the government’s fight against the Shining Path guerrilla group.

Kenya Fujimori was convicted in 2009 for ordering the massacre of 25 people in 1991 and 1992 during the government’s confrontation with the “Light Path”, but he was honored by former President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski on Christmas Eve 2017. pardon.

However, under pressure from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the victims’ families, lower courts have repeatedly revoked or suspended Kenya Fujimori’s pardon, but the Peruvian Constitutional Court restored the pardon order a few days ago.

Shortly after the order was issued, the president of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights asked Peru to halt the amnesty until “all the necessary elements” were in place to analyze eligibility.

Fujimori’s release comes as President Dina Boluarte’s approval rating drops to single digits, the lowest level within a year of her taking office since the ouster of her predecessor, Pedro Castillo.

After Boruarte took office, dozens of people died during anti-government protests, and Boruarte was also subject to a constitutional lawsuit by the Peruvian Attorney General. Central News Agency (translation)