Peruvian police arrested former Prime Minister Betsy Chavez on Tuesday on charges of conspiracy against the state and involvement in the attempted “coup” attributed to former President Pedro Castillo.

The former prime minister was arrested at her home in the southern city of Tacna, following a court order, according to Peruvian television networks, more than six months after the arrest and pretrial detention of former president Castillo, accused of “rebellion.”

Ms. Chavez, 34, a former student movement leader, lawyer, former lawmaker and minister, faces, like other former members of the Castillo government, an investigation for involvement in the “conspiracy” to overthrow the legal order.

The charges relate to Mr. Castillo’s announcement in December that he would dissolve parliament and rule by decree amid a process in the national delegation to end it. The body, which is dominated by the right-wing opposition, removed the head of state from office and the president’s bodyguards took him into custody.

The former president’s removal from power sparked a major political crisis in Peru, months of protests and riots that left more than 60 dead, mostly indigenous people. The current government under Dina Boluarte, Mr. Castillo’s vice-president until December, is in turn facing an investigation into the deaths of protesters and “genocide”, however, it rejects the accusations and assures that it is cooperating with the investigations.

The president also has legal immunity until the end of her term in 2026.

The Supreme Court issued the warrant for the arrest of Betsy Chavez, the justice system said on Twitter, clarifying that the prosecution requested her pretrial detention for 18 months.

The politician, who remains a passionate supporter of Mr Castillo, has repeatedly denied being part of a “conspiracy” that she knew there would be a “coup” attempt, as have other members of the former president’s government, who was elected with a party of the radical left. and remained in power for just 17 months.