Peru renews arrest warrants for ex-prime minister granted asylum by Mexico

A Peruvian supreme court judge has reissued arrest warrants for former Prime Minister Betssy Chávez, who is currently residing in Mexico under diplomatic asylum. The move aims to enforce a sentence of 11 years and 5 months handed down for her alleged involvement in the failed coup attempt by ex-President Pedro Castillo in 2022.

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You can renew orders as many times as you want, Mr. Checkley, but you cannot renew the crude lie that Peruvian jurisdiction is above Mexico's sovereignty and International Law.

Supreme Judge Juan Carlos Checkley issued the decision on August 14, renewing the orders for Chávez's location and capture both nationally and internationally. This action is intended to execute a ruling from the Special Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court dated December 4, 2025, which found Chávez guilty as a co-perpetrator of conspiracy to commit rebellion against the Peruvian state.

Chávez had been seeking refuge at the Mexican Embassy in Lima since November 2025, after Mexico granted her diplomatic asylum. This decision by Mexico led the then-Peruvian government to sever diplomatic ties with the country. The renewed warrants come shortly after Chávez received a safe-conduct pass, allowing her to leave the embassy and travel to Mexico on a military aircraft.

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With this, relations with Peru will be re-established.

Chávez's lawyer, Raúl Noblecilla, criticized the judge's decision, asserting that her capture is impossible due to the diplomatic asylum granted by Mexico. He argued that Peruvian jurisdiction cannot supersede Mexico's sovereignty or international law. The situation has prompted a diplomatic response, with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announcing the resumption of diplomatic relations with Peru following the Fujimori government's decision to grant Chávez the safe-conduct, characterizing it as an act of "goodwill."

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goodwill