Peru President Dina Boluarte 'Grabbed and Shaken' by Protester in Ayacucho Where Protesters Were Killed in 2022

Peru President Dina Boliarte is not very popular in the Andean region of Ayacucho, where 10 protesters were killed in 2022. However, she still visited the area but was soon attacked physically by a woman who was married to one of the protesters who were slain shortly after she came to power.

President Dina Boluarte was in Ayacucho to participate in laying the first paving stone of a road in three of the districts of the region. This was when a woman ducked under a truck parked where the president was standing with her entourage and approached her.

According to La Prensa Latina, footage from a local news station showed that despite her being surrounded by security and members of the Peruvian National Police (PNP), the woman grabbed the president and shook her. This was when security officials intervened and scuffled with the woman before taking her away.

Reports stated that the woman revealed that she was the wife of one of the protesters who were killed by authorities in Ayacucho during the anti-government demonstrations in 2022, shortly after former President Pedro Castillo was ousted from office and replaced by his vice president, Dina Boluarte.

The 2022 anti-government protests led to the deaths of ten people in Ayacucho, which was a district where Castillo had been very popular. He was removed by Congress following his failed self-coup in December 2022.

Peru Woman Calls President Dina Boluarte a Murderer To Her Face

When the incident occurred, President Dina Boluarte was reportedly throwing out candy as part of the ceremony to commemorate the new road. This was when the woman who identified herself as Ruth Baracena evaded security and approached her.

"Dina is a murderer!" she was heard shouting as security officials led her away. "My husband was murdered here. They killed my husband, and they want me to calm down?"

Videos from the incident went viral in Peru and they showed that Barcena continued pushing up against security officials, shouting "Dina is a murderer!" Several other people in attendance agreed as the violent suppression of the anti-government protests left deep scars in Ayacucho.

According to DW, Boluarte has already faced a constitutional complaint and investigation on allegations of "genocide, qualified homicide and serious injuries." She continues to deny these allegations.

Peru Prime Minister Reacts To Attack on President Dina Boluarte in Ayacucho

Soon after the attack, Prime Minister Jorge Otarola released a statement on social media and condemned it, saying it had "put in danger the head of state's integrity and this is very serious. With violence, we all lose as a country."

Reuters reported that this condemnation was followed by the Interior Ministry of Peru, which vowed to launch an investigation into the matter and identify the people responsible for the breach in security.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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