Peru’s Legal Battle with Ex-PM Chávez Reveals Dangerous Diplomatic Overreach

In a move that underscores the escalating political crisis engulfing Peru, Supreme Judge Juan Carlos Checkley has issued an international arrest warrant along with a five-month preventive detention order against former Prime Minister Betssy Chávez. Currently sheltered within Mexico’s embassy in Lima, Chávez faces charges tied to the failed coup attempt orchestrated by leftist ex-president Pedro Castillo in December 2022. Judge Checkley’s ruling points to what he describes as a "palpable" flight risk, citing Chávez’s repeated absence from biometric monitoring and judicial hearings. This hardline judicial stance comes amidst growing tensions between Peru’s government and its northern neighbor after Mexico...