The Inter-American Court of Human Rights said Peru ‘must exercise restraint’ in releasing Alberto Fujimori from prison.
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) has called on Peru not to release former President Alberto Fujimori, saying last month’s decision to reinstate the president’s pardon was insufficient to affect his right to justice. Victims of Fujimori.
The IACHR resolution published on Friday passed Peru’s top Constitutional Court, which has rule on March 17 to allow Fujimori to be released for “humanitarian” reasons.
Fujimori, president from 1990 to 2000, has served a 25-year sentence since 2009 for two massacres perpetrated by suicide squads during his presidency.
Twenty-five people, including one child, were killed in what was described as “anti-terrorist” operations in 1991 and 1992.
Last month, Peru’s Constitutional Court reinstated a controversial 2017 presidential pardon for Fujimori due to health concerns that had been overturned in part by decisions by the Costa Rica-based IACHR. .
However, the IACHR told Peru at the end of March not to release Fujimori until they could review the matter. Its new decision has closed the door for the divisive former leader to be released from prison now.
“The state of Peru must refrain from enforcing the sentence handed down by the Constitutional Court of Peru on March 17, 2022, which reinstated the validity of the humanitarian pardon granted to Alberto Fujimori on December 24, 2017,” the court said Friday.
Peru said it would abide by any decision made by the IACHR.
While Fujimori is praised by some for restoring economic stability and defeating Shining path The Maoist armed group, he was also condemned for his violent methods, including the use of death squads and the sending of the military to shut down Parliament and the judiciary in 1992.
His administration also accused of forcible sterilization of Peruvian women under the guise of a family planning program, while the former president also faces corruption charges.
Protesters have taken to the streets of the capital, Lima, following a decision by the Constitutional Court last month calling on the government to ensure that Fujimori remains behind bars for the duration of his sentence.
Many protesters also criticized the former leader for not admitting his crimes or apologizing to the victims.
Fujimori’s family filed several petitions for his release for health reasons, but all were denied.
His daughter Keiko Fujimoriwho has lost three times in the presidential election, said last year she would pardon her father if elected.
She was defeated in June by the former leader of the left-wing teachers’ union Pedro Castillo and now faces prosecution for alleged illegal campaign funding in her unsuccessful 2011 and 2016 presidential bids.
