Castillo alleges 'political persecution' and formalizes asylum request to Mexico.
Mexico's Foreign Secretary, Marcelo Ebrard, confirmed that former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo has requested political asylum and said that 'consultations' have begun.
Sputnik - Mexico is beginning consultations with the Peruvian government regarding granting political asylum to the Peruvian president who was ousted on Wednesday (7), Pedro Castillo.
The announcement of the talks was made by Mexico's Foreign Secretary, Marcelo Ebrard, this Thursday (8), on Twitter.
"Ambassador Pablo Monroy informs me from Lima that he managed to meet with Pedro Castillo at the Penitentiary Center at 13:20 PM [local time, 18:20 PM GMT]. He found him physically well and in the company of his lawyer. Castillo ratified the asylum request received by the Mexican Embassy this morning (02:00 AM). We have begun consultations with the Peruvian authorities," Ebrard said on Twitter.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador revealed Castillo's intention to request political asylum in Mexico during a press conference held on Thursday morning.
Obrador requested that Castillo's human rights be respected and that the family of the now former Peruvian president be protected.
"We consider it regrettable that, due to the interests of economic and political elites, a climate of confrontation and hostility has been maintained against Pedro Castillo since the beginning of his legitimate presidency, until he was led to make decisions that served his adversaries in order to consummate his removal from office," stated the Mexican president.
On Wednesday, then-Peruvian President Pedro Castillo was arrested after his removal from office was confirmed by the Congress of the Republic.
The Peruvian judiciary issued a seven-day preventive detention order against Castillo for the alleged crime of rebellion following an attempt to dissolve Congress.
Subscribe to 247, Support via Pix, Subscribe to TV 247, in the channel Cuts 247 and watch: