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Alberto Fujimori, the former Peruvian president, walks out of prison after a court ruling
The Peruvian Constitutional Court ordered Fujimori's immediate release from prison on Tuesday, reinstating the "medical pardon" given to him in 2017 by current President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. This move was met with controversy, as only a year prior, the same court revoked the pardon, forcing Fujimori to return to prison.
A controversial figure, Fujimori served as president from 1990 to 2000 and was known for his controversial tactics, from his handling of the violent Shining Path terrorists to his austere economic policies that curbed hyperinflation. However, he was also accused of authoritarian tendencies and using security forces to suppress opposition.
Fujimori's presidency came to an end due to a corruption scandal. A special court sentenced him to 25 years in prison for sanctioning death squads associated with extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and murder of students and teachers.
Kuczynski's office explained the granting of the pardon, stating that Fujimori suffered from a degenerative, incurable disease. In a video from his hospital bed, the then-79-year-old Fujimori expressed gratitude to Kuczynski and apologized for any harm his administration may have caused.
Protests erupted following the granting of the pardon in 2017, resulting in two nights of violent demonstrations in Lima.
The case involves allegations of approving death squads in connection with the execution of 15 civilians in Barrios Altos, Lima, forced disappearances, and murders of nine students and a professor at Cantuta University and two abductions, as claimed by Human Rights Watch.
Furthermore, separate proceedings found Fujimori guilty of breaking into the former spy chief's home to steal incriminating videos, misusing state funds for the spy chief's compensation, approving illegal wiretapping, and bribing congressmen and journalists.
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International criticism surrounding the release of Fujimori, despite his deteriorating health, has been mixed. Critics argue that the release does not address the serious human rights abuses committed during his presidency. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights and human rights organizations like Amnesty International have consistently condemned Fujimori's actions as crimes against humanity and questioned the validity of the pardon. Some foreign leaders, such as Álvaro Uribe Vélez (former President of Colombia), have expressed support for Fujimori's administration, while others have acknowledged the human rights abuse cases.
