Peruvian Ex-Prime Minister Betssy Chavez Faces Arrest Amid Asylum in Mexican Embassy
A Peruvian Supreme Court judge has issued an arrest warrant and ordered five months of preventive detention for former Prime Minister Betssy Chavez. This development comes as Chavez is currently seeking asylum within the Mexican embassy in Lima, the capital of Peru, further intensifying a diplomatic dispute between the two Latin American nations. Chavez, who briefly held the premiership during the administration of the impeached and jailed former President Pedro Castillo, is being prosecuted for alleged conspiracy against the state and her purported involvement in Castillo's attempt to unilaterally dissolve Congress in late 2022.
Details of the Arrest Order and Diplomatic Fallout
The arrest order, initially issued on November 18 by Supreme Court judge Juan Carlos Checkley and subsequently publicized on Friday, has been disseminated to both the Peruvian national police and Interpol, according to official court resolutions. Mexico's decision to grant Chavez asylum in early November directly led to Peru's foreign ministry severing diplomatic relations with Mexico. Peru's Foreign Ministry has indicated it will consult with the Organization of American States (OAS) before making a final decision regarding the provision of safe conduct for the former prime minister to depart the country.
Grave Charges and Denial
Prosecutors are aggressively pursuing a significant 25-year prison sentence for Chavez. The accusations center on her alleged complicity in former President Castillo’s controversial attempt to shut down Peru's Congress towards the end of 2022, an action widely regarded as an attempted self-coup. Chavez has consistently maintained her innocence, vehemently denying any prior knowledge of Castillo's plan.
Castillo's Public Defense and Ongoing Legal Battle
In a related development, former President Pedro Castillo, who remains in preventive detention and is himself on trial for rebellion, publicly defended Chavez during a court hearing on Friday. Castillo used the opportunity to reject the accusations leveled against him, stating emphatically, “I am not here to ask for acquittal. I am not here to ask for clemency or sympathy. I am here to demand justice.” His high-profile trial, which commenced in March, is reportedly now entering its conclusive phases.
Previous Detention and Release
Prior to this latest arrest order, Chavez, who also previously served as a legislator, had been imprisoned since June 2023. She was later released in September of the same year, allowing her to stand trial while free, a status that has now changed with the new judicial directive.