Peru's president testifies on anti-government protest deaths

By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - Peru's president testified on Wednesday on the deaths of dozens of demonstrators during anti-government protests last December and this January.

Dina Boluarte was summoned as part of prosecutors’ investigation into alleged crimes, including genocide, aggravated homicide, and serious injuries, in connection with the 49 protest-related deaths, according to Peru's Ombudsman's Office.

The protests erupted following the impeachment of former President Pedro Castillo last December. People took to the streets demanding Boluarte's resignation, the dissolution of Congress, and the early scheduling of general elections.

Boluarte appeared before the attorney general, Patricia Benavides. "We have attended and testified," Boluarte’s attorney Joseph Campos told reporters when the 90-minute proceeding ended.

Campos said that "there had been no order from the president" to shoot at the demonstrators.

"We gave statements that the situation should be controlled, but respecting human rights," he added.

This is the third time that the prosecutor's office has questioned Boluarte under the investigation. On June 6, Boluarte took questions for approximately three hours. Afterward, Campos said Boluarte had expected to be excluded from the investigations.

During Wednesday’s questioning, a group of demonstrators, accusing Boluarte of being responsible for the protest-related deaths, gathered outside the prosecutor’s office and remained there with signs.

If formally charged, Boluarte will not be brought to trial until 2026, when her term ends.

She is the sixth person to hold the presidency in five years in Peru, a country facing endemic political instability.