Prosecutor’s Office summons the president of Peru to testify for deaths in protests

Peruvian President Dina Boluarte was summoned by the prosecutor’s office to testify in an investigation for the alleged crimes of genocide, qualified homicide and serious injuries committed during the anti-government protests that left more than 60 dead in three months, the president’s lawyer reported on Wednesday.

Joseph Campos told local radio station RPP that Boluarte must testify before Attorney General Patricia Benavides on May 31. The president was summoned in January, February and March, but she has not testified. In March she was not questioned because the prosecutor’s office asked to be included to participate in the proceedings.

The president has not spoken during the day. The Associated Press asked the prosecution about the summons to the president, without obtaining a response at the time.

Prime Minister Alberto Otárola was questioned in January and February in the same investigation. The protests have left 67 dead and more than 1,300 injured, according to the Ombudsman’s Office. Almost all of the deceased are civilians, most received projectiles from a firearm and some were hit by shots to the head.

Due to the rank of those investigated, the investigation is in charge of the attorney general. Genocide is punishable by a minimum sentence of 20 years in prison. Also included in the inquiry are former Prime Minister Pedro Angulo and other former officials.

Boluarte came to power on December 7 when his predecessor, then President Pedro Castillo, tried to dissolve Parliament and was fired. Castillo is detained for 18 months for the alleged crime of rebellion in a prison for presidents in Lima.

Since then it began to light up protests in rural areas from the south of the Andes which demanded the resignation of Boluarte and the members of Parliament. The demonstrations spread in the south until they reached Lima, but they subsided from mid-February.

However, andhe Congress has not yet decided to advance the elections presidential and parliamentary Four plans to shorten the term of Boluarte and the legislators were shelved for not reaching the necessary votes.

According to the most recent May survey by the firm Ipsos Peru, 75% disapprove of Boluarte and 16% support her.

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