Peru’s top prosecutor has opened an investigation into President Dina Boluarte and
senior ministries following weeks of violence that have left dozens dead.
The officials are being probed on charges of “genocide, qualified homicide, and
significant injury”.
After ex-President Pedro Castillo was imprisoned in December for attempting to
dissolve Congress, violence erupted.
On Monday, 17 people were killed in skirmishes in southern Peru between Castillo
supporters and security personnel.
Dozens more were hurt in Juliaca during the biggest day of violence so far. Many of the victims had been shot.
Protesters were accused by officials of attempting to take over Juliaca’s airport and a local police station. The region is currently under a nightly curfew.
The attorney general’s office declared on Tuesday that it would examine Ms. Boluarte, as well as Prime Minister Alberto Otárola and the defense and interior ministers.
The president and her cabinet have made no public comments on the matter.
Castillo supporters, many of whom are impoverished indigenous Peruvians, demand
that President Boluarte resign, that a snap election be held, and that the previous
president be released.
Mr. Castillo, a left-winger, tweeted from his prison cell that those who defended Peru against what he called the coup tyranny would not be forgotten.
Separately, Mr. Otárola’s government easily won a vote of confidence in Congress on Tuesday.
The South American country has been in political instability for years, with the most
recent crisis escalating in December when Mr. Castillo declared he was dissolving
Congress and declaring a state of emergency.
However, Congress overwhelmingly voted to impeach him.
The former president is being probed on rebellion and conspiracy allegations. He denies all of the allegations and maintains that he is still the rightful president of the country.
