Protests in Peru after pardon of former president Fujimori

World Today

Protests in Peru after pardon of former president FujimoriSupporters of former President Alberto Fujimori celebrate his medical pardon outside the clinic where the jailed leader was admitted the previous day after suffering a drop in blood pressure in Lima, Peru, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017. Peru’s president announced Sunday night that he granted a medical pardon to the jailed former strongman who was serving a 25-year sentence for human rights abuses, corruption and the sanctioning of death squads. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski pardoned former president Alberto Fujimori, after the imprisoned leader was rushed to the hospital in what doctors call life-threatening condition. Kuczynski had summoned a meeting of his cabinet to discuss whether Fujimori should be released, and cited “humanitarian” reasons for the pardon. Fujimori was serving a 25-year sentence for human rights abuses, among other crimes.

Fujimori’s supporters had been urging his release, and just days ago prevented Congress from removing President Kuczynski from office over a corruption scandal.

As CGTN’s Dan Collyns reports, the pardon has sparked angry protests in the capital.