Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, imprisoned for over 15 years, was released from Lima’s Barbadillo prison, surrounded by hundreds of supporters.
The country’s constitutional court reinstated a presidential pardon granted to the 85-year-old six years ago.
Fujimori remains a polarizing figure, having been convicted for corruption and human rights violations during his presidency.
Originally serving a 25-year prison term, he left the prison wearing a face mask and was assisted by his children, Kenji and Keiko Fujimori, who narrowly lost the recent presidential election.
For some, Fujimori is credited with rescuing Peru from terrorism and economic collapse, while others view him as an authoritarian leader who undermined democratic institutions to maintain power.
His ten-year rule from 1990 to 2000 witnessed controversial actions, including a severe crackdown on insurgencies resulting in approximately 69,000 deaths.
His presidency’s aftermath led to convictions for bribery, abuse of power, and human rights abuses, including authorizing killings by death squads.
Initially sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2009, many expected Fujimori to spend his life incarcerated.
However, in December 2017, he was transferred to the hospital due to health issues, including low blood pressure and irregular heart rhythm.
Subsequently, President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski granted him a pardon, citing his incurable illness and the “grave risk to his life” posed by imprisonment.
Source-BBC
