Pedro Castillo's release request to be debated by Peru Judiciary

The Peruvian Judiciary has scheduled a public hearing for August 12 to debate a habeas corpus petition filed on behalf of former President Pedro Castillo. The defense, led by attorney and former Defense Minister Walter Ayala, seeks to nullify Castillo's prison sentence for conspiracy to commit rebellion following his failed attempt to dissolve Congress in December 2022.

The legal team argues that Castillo's right to a defense was violated during his trial, which resulted in a sentence of over 11 years. Their arguments are supported by a report from the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which questioned the legality of his detention and procedural integrity.

In a related development, the Supreme Court has authorized Castillo to participate actively in the virtual hearing from the Barbadillo prison in Ate. This allows him to present technical, legal, and political arguments to the magistrates, where he intends to maintain his innocence regarding charges of rebellion and abuse of authority.