Peru Rejects Pardon Request for Former President Pedro Castillo

• The Peruvian Ministry of Justice and Human Rights rejected a pardon request for former President Pedro Castillo, submitted by Congressman Elías Varas.
• The request failed to specify the type of pardon—whether general, commutation, or clemency—and did not meet the mandatory internal requirements set by the Presidential Pardons Commission.
• This decision eliminates the possibility of a pardon from outgoing President José María Balcázar, who had previously promised such action to Castillo's supporters.

Detention and Legal Status

• Castillo is currently serving an 11-year sentence at Barbadillo prison for his December 7, 2022, attempt to dissolve Congress.
• In November 2025, a court convicted him of conspiracy to commit rebellion but acquitted him of the charge of actual rebellion, noting that he did not take up arms.
• The Supreme Court of Justice upheld a 12-month pretrial detention for Castillo just one day before the Commission's ruling.

Government Response to UN Recommendations

• The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention classified Castillo’s imprisonment as "arbitrary" last July and called for his immediate release.
• The Peruvian government continues to ignore these recommendations, maintaining that the UN ruling is non-binding.