Peru's Constitutional Court has ordered the immediate humanitarian release of imprisoned former President Alberto Fujimori, who is 85 years old.
Fujimori was serving a 25-year sentence in connection with the death squad slayings of 25 Peruvians in the 1990s, as per NPR.
Alberto Fujimori Granted Release by Peru's Constitutional Court
LIMA, PERU - DECEMBER 06: Former president of Peru Alberto Fujimori exits in a car the Barbadillo prison after being released on December 06, 2023 in Lima, Peru. On Tuesday, Peru's Constitutional Tribunal ordered the immediate release of former president Alberto Fujimori who is serving a 25 years sentence in connection with the death squad slayings of 25 Peruvians in the 1990s. This pardon request was appealed by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
The court's ruling is in favor of a 2017 pardon that had initially granted Fujimori release on humanitarian grounds but was later annulled. This decision marks a dramatic turn of events for the former president, who had been seeking freedom amid legal complexities and international pressure.
Alberto Fujimori, who held power in Peru during the 1990s, received a presidential pardon in 2017, but his attempts to regain freedom were repeatedly obstructed due to pressure from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR). However, this recent ruling by Peru's Constitutional Court paved the way for his immediate release from the detention center where he had been held.
Fujimori's incarceration stemmed from his conviction for ordering the massacre of 25 people in 1991 and 1992 while his government was engaged in a battle against the Shining Path guerrillas. The former president was also serving a 25-year sentence for human rights abuses and corruption during his decade-long rule in the 1990s.
The highest court in Peru found that the appeal to restore the 2017 pardon on humanitarian grounds for the ailing Fujimori was "founded," according to official documents. This decision comes after a previous ruling in Fujimori's favor by the constitutional court in 2022, which was subsequently suspended due to pressure from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, according to Reuters.
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Optimism for Fujimori's Potential Release
In a statement, Elio Riera, the lawyer representing former president Fujimori, expressed optimism regarding his client's potential release on Wednesday. Riera conveyed that Fujimori remains composed and hopeful, anticipating a swift execution of the release process.
In Peru, Alberto Fujimori's 2017 presidential pardon has sparked intense division among the population, as various segments hold contrasting views on his legacy, perceiving him either as a dictator or a hero. The families of the victims of the massacre were outraged by the pardon, which ultimately resulted in his return to prison in October 2018.
The release of Fujimori has drawn criticism from human rights activists, who contend that it contradicts the demands for justice on behalf of the victims of state violence. Carlos Rivera, a lawyer representing the NGO Legal Defense Institute, has emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that it poses an important risk to the rule of law. He further suggests that there may be potential international legal implications as a result.
In the midst of Peru's ongoing struggle to come to terms with the intricate legacy left behind by Alberto Fujimori's presidency, a recent court ruling has emerged, introducing a fresh chapter to the ongoing discourse surrounding his leadership and the contentious events that unfolded during the 1990s, Voice of America reported.
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