The former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimorisentenced to 25 years in prison for crimes against humanity, was released on Wednesday under the protection of a pardon granted on humanitarian grounds, despite the objections of the inter-American legal system.

Fujimori, 85 years old and suffering from several illnesses, left the prison in Barbadillo, eastern Lima, at 6:29 pm local time (23:29 GMT).

With a black vest and mask, Fujimori left accompanied by his children Keiko and Kenji in a gray van slowly making its way through dozens of followers.

“We have hearts bursting with joy. Because this man is wrongly imprisoned” he said to the AFP Nikita, a supporter who arrived at the prison.

On Tuesday, the Constitutional Court ordered the release of the former president after the pardon granted in 2017 was reinstated.

The then government of Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (2016-2018) granted the request for pardon to Fujimori on humanitarian grounds, but the Peruvian legal system revoked it in response to a request from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (Inter-American Court) in favor of the victims of the former president who ruled with an iron fist between 1990 and 2000.

This Wednesday, the Inter-American Court requested the Peruvian government not to release the former president until the legality of the Constitutional Court’s decision has been assessed.

However, the government of Dina Boluarte authorized his release. (JO)