Thousands of Peruvians took to the streets on Saturday (Nov. 5) to demand the resignation of the current president, Pedro Castillo.
In Lima, demonstrators occupied the city’s main highway, Emancipation Avenue.
Castillo is accused of being part of a criminal organization, influence peddling, and conspiracy.
On Oct. 12, Peru’s Public Ministry presented Congress with an indictment against the Peruvian leader.
He claims that the charges represent “persecution”.
In a statement on Saturday (Nov. 5), Castillo called opponents of his government “enemies of the people” and said he would keep his mandate until the last day.
The Peruvian National Police was called in to control the demonstrations.
The corporation’s Twitter profile said that peaceful protest is a “citizen’s right”.
Peru’s Public Defender’s Office called for police to conduct “rational use” of tear gas.
“They should avoid the use of horses in mobilizations and protests as determined by the Judiciary,” the body added in its Twitter profile.