Victor Zanabria faces eight years in prison as cases related to the 2022-23 demonstrations advance.

On Tuesday, the Peruvian Prosecutor’s Office sought an eight-year prison sentence against former National Police Commander Gen. Victor Zanabria for injuries inflicted on demonstrators during protests against the removal of former President Pedro Castillo.

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Zanabria was leading police operations in Lima when social protests erupted following Castillo’s imprisonment on Dec. 7, 2022. At the time, social unrest spread to cities across the country for two months, especially in southern Peru’s Andean region, where the former leader had received his strongest electoral support.

In October 2025, Zanabria was also charged with aggravated homicide in connection with the death of Victor Santisteban, the first protester killed during demonstrations held in Lima on Jan. 28, 2023.

Yenny Huacchillo, the specialized human rights prosecutor, requested eight years in prison for Zanabria and Col. Frank Chang on charges of causing serious bodily harm to Renato Murillo and minor injuries to Benedicto Huaccachi under the legal doctrine of commission by omission.

Both cases occurred during citizen mobilizations on Dec. 12, 2022, in a context of serious human rights violations, Huacchillo said. She also requested that the defendants be barred from holding public office for three years and eight months.

Renato Murillo was struck in the head by a tear gas canister, leaving him in a coma for 12 days. In this case, Lt. Luis Bazan was charged as the direct perpetrator and faces a seven-year prison sentence. Prosecutors also sought six years in prison for Maj. Luis Avila and Cmdr. Jorge Celadita.

The Prosecutor’s Office requested a three-year prison sentence for Officer Dino Tarrillo for causing minor injuries to Benedicto Huaccachi, who was struck by a tear gas canister in the pelvic area.

It also sought two years in prison for First Officer Eder Tasayco and Maj. Jose Solari under the legal doctrine of commission by omission, in addition to a ban from holding public office for three years and eight months for the three accused officers.

In the case involving Zanabria and Chang, the prosecutor also requested civil reparations of approximately US$1,761 for each of the injured victims. The case is currently in the intermediate stage, pending the scheduling by the Judiciary of a hearing to present the charges in a possible trial.

In 2022, at least 50 people were killed and hundreds were injured, according to reports by civil society and international organizations. U.S.-backed President Dina Boluarte (2022-2025) was also accused in connection with those victims, but Congress declared the Prosecutor’s Office complaint inadmissible.

teleSUR/ JF

Source:EFE

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