Castillo and his defense have turned their attention to international organizations such as the United Nations (UN), seeking to guarantee his fundamental rights and denouncing a judicial process riddled with irregularities.

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Peruvian Supreme Court Begins Trial Against Former President Pedro Castillo

Former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo announced on Monday the start of a hunger strike as a form of protest against what he describes as an unjust judicial process targeting him.

In a letter signed as “president in captivity,” Castillo denounces the irregularities surrounding his imprisonment and maintains that he is being accused of crimes he did not commit. The letter not only expresses his rejection of the imminent conviction but also symbolizes his resistance against what he considers an attack on his personal and political dignity.

The former leader argues that the court judging him lacks impartiality, pointing out that the presiding judge has already expressed prejudiced opinions that compromise the objectivity of the trial.

Through his lawyer, Walter Ayala, Castillo has demanded the reconstitution of the court, asserting that the charges of rebellion lack solid foundations. According to Ayala, the trial is based on the failed attempt at a self-coup, but he insists that there was no armed uprising or military support in that attempt.

Castillo and his defense have turned their attention to international organizations such as the United Nations (UN), seeking to guarantee his fundamental rights and denouncing a judicial process riddled with irregularities.

In his first statement before the court, the former head of state declared, “I am in prison unjustly,” defending his only “guilt” as that of “defending the people” and accusing the Public Ministry of manipulating the charges against him.

Despite the severity of the accusations and the tense climate surrounding his situation, the court denied his request to leave the hearing and assigned him a public defender, which Castillo sees as further evidence of a flawed judicial process from the start.

The oral trial against him began on March 4, amid a context marked by misinformation and campaigns against him.

Castillo, who faces a historic trial on charges of rebellion and abuse of authority that could result in up to 34 years in prison, is in a critical situation after being elected constitutional president in 2021.

The decision to begin a hunger strike highlights Castillo’s determination to fight against what he perceives as an injustice, while the country watches closely the development of a case that has deeply polarized Peruvian society.

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