Immediate Release of Alberto Fujimori: Peruvian Constitutional Court Restores Grace

Wednesday 06 December 2023 - 08:21

After twenty-five years behind bars for crimes against humanity, the former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori, aged 85, is set to regain his freedom. The Peruvian Constitutional Court ordered his immediate release on Tuesday, thus reinstating the grace granted to him in 2017, which was revoked in 2019 by the Supreme Court.

The Constitutional Court's decision, which cannot be appealed, follows several unsuccessful attempts to release the former head of state. In March 2022, the same Court had already ordered his release for health reasons, but this decision was suspended by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in Costa Rica. This time, the Constitutional Court appears resolute in its decision to release Alberto Fujimori.

The family of the former president had advocated repeatedly for his release due to his recurrent health problems. Alberto Fujimori suffers from respiratory and neurological issues, including facial paralysis, in addition to hypertension. His lawyer, Elio Riera, confirmed that the necessary administrative procedures for his release were carried out at the Barbadillo prison.

A group of supporters wearing white shirts with the message "Fujimori freedom" was also present. Security was reinforced around the prison, as shown in images from private television channels. The Association for Human Rights (Aprodeh) condemned the decision, considering it a defiance of the Inter-American Court.

Alberto Fujimori ruled Peru with an iron fist but, faced with growing opposition, he fled to Japan in November 2000, where his family originates. Despite his request for "pardon" in 2017 for the actions committed during his government, Fujimori has divided Peruvians like few politicians in the history of the Andean country with 32 million inhabitants.