Lilia Paredes (L), Pablo Monroy (C), and Pedro Castillo's children (R) | Photo: Twitter/ @Ubadel10

Mexico City, December 21 (RHC)-- Early Wednesday morning, the Mexican ambassador to Peru Pablo Monroy accompanied the wife of former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo, Lilia Paredes, on her trip to Mexico, where she will reside as a political refugee.

Peruvian media reported earlier that Lilia Paredes and her youngest children boarded a plane in Lima to take them to Mexico.  The former first lady of Peru and her children flew to Mexico under political asylum, after the government of Dina Boluarte decided to grant them safe conduct to leave the country.

The granting of political asylum to the former first lady and her children provoked the expulsion of the Mexican ambassador in Peru and warnings from Peruvian authorities due to pending corruption investigations against Paredes.  The Mexican government also granted asylum to former president Pedro Castillo, who remains detained in Peru and is being investigated by the Public Prosecutor's Office for crimes of rebellion, conspiracy, abuse of authority and serious disturbance of the public tranquility.

Relations between Mexico and Peru have been strained in recent days following statements made by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in support of Pedro Castillo.

The dismissal of Pedro Castillo by Congress last December 7th generated a series of protests and demonstrations in several regions of Peru that have already left more than 25 people dead due to the repression of street actions.

In the midst of protests and mobilizations, the plenary of the Congress preliminarily approved on Tuesday an early election for April 2024.