Mexico grants political asylum to Pedro Castillo’s family: they are at the embassy

Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Relations, said Tuesday that the family of former president Pedro Castillo, now detained, is staying at the Mexican embassy in the Andean country, which is located in the district of San Isidro, city of Lima.

“The asylum has already been granted because they are in Mexican territory; that is, they are in our embassy. When they are at the embassy, they are granted asylum. It is an independent, sovereign decision of Mexico,” said the Mexican foreign minister in statements to the press.

He added that what is currently being negotiated is the safe-conduct that would be granted to Lilia Paredes, former first lady of Peru and Castillo’s wife, and her children. The goal would be for them to have the option of moving to Mexico if they wish.

The Foreign Minister acknowledged that the former president of Peru, Pedro Castillo, and his family have already been granted asylum in Mexico. “Now what is being negotiated is the safe-conduct so that if they want to leave they can do so,” he explained.

The whereabouts of Lilia Paredes and her two children, were unknown until today, since Pedro Castillo sought to carry out a coup d’état and was later dismissed by the Congress of the Republic for permanent moral incapacity and detained by the Peruvian justice system.

Paredes is also being investigated by the Peruvian justice: the Judiciary was evaluating a 36-month request to prevent the first lady from leaving the country due to the alleged crimes for which she is being investigated, criminal organization and aggravated collusion.

However, Lilia Paredes no longer has any legal restrictions if she wishes to leave the country today. The National Criminal Chamber annulled the impediments imposed on the wife of Pedro Castillo by concluding that the resolution that prevented her from leaving her country was not properly motivated. The Special Team of Prosecutors appealed the judge’s decision, but this has not yet been resolved.

Until now, Mexico has not wanted to recognize Dina Boluarte as president of Peru. Andrés Manuel López Obrador, President of Mexico, has assured that Pedro Castillo is unjustly persecuted by justice, despite the coup d’état that he sought to perpetrate against the Peruvian country on December 7.

With information from Bloomberg Línea