A Peruvian court has issued an international arrest warrant for former prime minister Betssy Chvez, who is accused of taking part in the failed 2022 coup attempt led by ex-President Pedro Castillo. Chvez has been staying inside the Mexican embassy in Lima after seeking asylum earlier this month. She served as prime minister under Castillo, who was removed from office in December 2022 after attempting to dissolve Congress during a prolonged political standoff, an action that has widely been classified as an attempted coup dtat. Relations between Peru and Mexico deteriorated sharply after Castillos ouster. The former president, described by supporters as Perus first poor president, was on his way to the Mexican embassy with his family to request asylum when he was arrested and charged with rebellion and abuse of authority. Chvez was charged alongside him, and both went on trial in March. Castillo has been held in preventive detention since his impeachment, while Chvez was released on bail before later requesting asylum at the Mexican ambassadors residence. Peruvian authorities are currently assessing Mexicos request for safe passage for her. Lima has since severed diplomatic relations with Mexico, accusing it of interfering in its internal affairs by granting Chvez asylum. Prosecutors are seeking a 25-year prison sentence for Chvez, alleging she played a role in Castillos plan, while they are pushing for a 34-year sentence for Castillo himself. Along with issuing the international arrest warrant, Fridays court ruling also ordered five months of pretrial detention for Chvez once she is apprehended.
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