Peru

The Executive Branch was the institution that most harassed and restricted the work of the press. These restrictions include the silence of President Dina Boluarte toward the media, the denial of public information requests, and the return of Minister Juan José Santiváñez, who has been known to harass journalists constantly.

In June, the government announced that President Boluarte would host a Sunday television program on the state channel — at a time when she had gone 250 days without answering questions from the press since October 2024. The president often appeared at public events to which the press was not invited.

In another incident, the Government Palace refused to provide public information to the program Punto Final on Latina channel regarding food expenses assigned to President Boluarte and her family through a prepaid card. The justification was that releasing the information could endanger the president, who could be the target of “possible terrorist and/or criminal attacks.”

Congress continues its attempts to impose gag rules through new laws and legislative changes, and, together with the Executive, has sought to control media content through “informational slots” in cases of violence against women and their relatives. The law requires free informational space of up to 10 percent of programming over which the media outlet has no editorial control.

Both branches approved an amnesty law to benefit those who committed human rights abuses between 1980 and 2000, including Daniel Urresti, who in 1988 killed Caretas correspondent Hugo Bustíos. Other perpetrators of the murders of journalists Jaime Ayala, Melissa Alfaro, and Pedro Yauri may also be amnestied.

In June, Congress amended Legislative Decree 702 on promoting private investment in telecommunications. It established that cable television providers in regional areas are required to include specific television channels at no additional cost, a practice that had previously been compensated for. In July, the Permanent Congressional Commission scheduled a debate on the so-called “Gag Law,” which seeks to expand prison sentences and defamation penalties against journalists. It also requires media outlets to publish corrections for three consecutive days.

In another Congressional action, employees were prohibited from speaking to the press without prior authorization on matters involving legislators. Similarly, the Peruvian National Police classified as confidential “all complaint information contained in the Police Complaint System and the Criminal Investigation Complaint System” for a period of five years.

The Justice and Human Rights Commission of Congress, on the initiative of Congressman José Luis Elías Ávalos (Podemos Perú), evaluated modifying the Penal Code to punish those who “improperly” publish text messages or emails without public interest.” The change refers to the crime of improper publication of communications, which includes other types of correspondence. The applicable penalties are under discussion.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office continued its policy of requesting journalists to reveal their sources and opened investigations against them and their media outlets for criminal association.

In May, El Comercio, Panorama, and La Encerrona reported that the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (PCM) denied access to public information regarding a potential salary increase for President Boluarte. The PCM argued that the information was confidential and relied on provisions of the Transparency and Accountability in Public Information Act. In another incident, the PCM classified information about official vehicles as confidential “due to the risk that public dissemination could pose to users.”

In June, Panorama reported that state advertising was being directed in favor of La Noticia, run by Martin Valdivia, which was linked to the “diarios chicha” scandal during Alberto Fujimori’s government. Valdivia manages Fama y Asociados, which distributes the advertising budget of the PCM. La Noticia has far less reach than other established media outlets in Lima and other regions.

In July, presidential advisor and former Interior Minister Juan José Santiváñez filed complaints against journalists from Latina channel — Mónica Delta, Juan Subauste, Carlos Hidalgo, and Jorge Ramírez — for the crime of illegal surveillance. A report by the channel showed Santiváñez outside his house, where state vehicles were parked, and revealed that he met with high-ranking public officials, allegedly exceeding his responsibilities. The Second Provincial Criminal Prosecutor’s Office of La Molina and Cieneguilla opened a preliminary investigation against the journalists for alleged crimes against public peace and public tranquility “in the form of surveillance.”

In September, Lima Mayor Rafael López Aliaga stated at a public event that “we have to take out Gorriti,” a colloquial phrase implying killing. On several occasions, López Aliaga has intimidated the journalist, the director of IDL Reporteros. Gorriti said he would file a complaint against the mayor for incitement to murder and noted that López Aliaga has promised to expel him from the country if elected president. The politician currently leads the 2026 presidential election polls with 11%.

The mayor is known for his constant attacks on the press. During a speech at the inauguration of a bypass in Lima, he held up a jar of jam in reference to Canal N, saying they “always bother, bother.” In another speech at the opening of a park in San Martín de Porres, he again displayed a jar of jam to refer to the magazine Caretas. It is not the first time he has insulted the press as “mermelera,” implying that media outlets are paid for their reporting.

Other notable incidents during this period:

The Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Corruption Crimes requested to lift the confidentiality of communications of journalists Rodrigo Cruz Arana and César Prado Malca in connection with an investigation by the Public Prosecutor’s Office into alleged bribery involving the journalists and prosecutor Marita Barreto. According to Miguel Girao, a former advisor to ex-National Prosecutor Patricia Benavides, Barreto allegedly asked the journalists to publish negative information about Superior Prosecutor Delia Espinoza, who is now the National Prosecutor. Both journalists denied the accusations.

Journalist Marco Sifuentes, from the digital program La Encerrona, was sued by Congresswoman Patricia Chirinos for aggravated defamation. Sifuentes had mentioned, in December of the previous year, on the streaming program Pitucos Marrones, Chirinos’ background in a general context related to crime. According to the complaint, the journalist referred to the congresswoman as a “gang leader.” In May, the judiciary dismissed the complaint, ruling that Sifuentes’ critique was protected under freedom of expression. Chirinos appealed.

In May, the Public Prosecutor’s Office demanded that the digital outlet Central de Noticias in Huaral reveal its source regarding alleged corruption in the Municipality of Aucallama. Failure to disclose the source could result in charges of “resisting or disobeying authority.”

In July, prosecutor Robinson Ramírez, from a specialized office on violence against women, opened investigations against journalists Carlos Paredes, Augusto Thorndike, Marycielo del Castillo, and Milagros Leiva from Willax for harassment, unlawful entry, and “criminal association” after critical coverage of prosecutor Marita Barreto, who had previously filed a complaint.

Journalist Carolina Arredondo Villar, from Polémica Loreto, reported being harassed and insulted after attempting to obtain official information about a judge convicted of corruption in Loreto. The Office of Institutional Image, Press, and Protocol of the Superior Court of Justice of Loreto accused her of practicing “yellow journalism”. It expelled her from the official WhatsApp group of journalists covering the court.

Miraflores Mayor Carlos Canales attacked El Comercio for publishing “half-truths” and “untrue information,” calling the newspaper a “mermelero” outlet and alleging it responds to “construction industry interests.”

Rosmery Tapara, an investigative journalist for La República, has faced harassment after reporting on a public cleaning company allegedly committing fraud in a land purchase. The newspaper received legal notices from companies and individuals involved in the investigation. Tapara has been a victim of identity theft, phone line blockages, and intimidation messages.

Several journalists in Andahuaylas were accused of money laundering and being part of a network of strawmen. They include Guy Velázquez Arias (Radio Titanka manager), his wife María Olarte Lima, and journalists Analí Andrade Pareja (Fuerza Informativa Apurímac), Paul Pilco Dorregaray (Radio Titanka), Carlos Peña Costillo (La Gaceta del Aire), Edwin Ramírez (Portada.pe), and Rolando Alcarráz Naveros (commentator, Radio Titanka). The complaints followed the publication of questions regarding Mayor Abel Serna Herrera’s management.

The Sixth Constitutional Court of Lima admitted a writ of protection filed by the Legal Defense Institute (IDL) against a law granting new powers to the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI) regarding NGOs. According to IDL, a congressional amendment may violate fundamental rights, such as freedom of association and public participation. The APCI can now veto funded activities, restrict private actions until state authorization is obtained, limit litigation by associations, and cancel registrations of organizations that fund activities that may affect “public order.”

Journalist Carlos Alarcón reported that unknown individuals fired 13 bullets at his home in Yurimaguas, Loreto. Alarcón hosts a program on Amazonía TV Yurimaguas. Less than a week prior, he received WhatsApp threats: “You asked for lead and lead you shall receive.”

The Municipality of Lima used its communication channels to harass La República. One post claimed that the outlet’s workers allegedly damaged train seats on the Lima-Chosica line without authorization. It followed an article exposing deteriorated trains, which are 40 years old. Afterward, journalist Grecia Infante received death threats, and strangers contacted her family to prevent reporting. Supporters of the mayor also shouted insults and vandalized the newspaper building.

Journalist Gudy Gálvez Tafur, director of Huaraz Noticias in Áncash, received death threats. The outlet had reported illicit management and corruption in public works in Huaraz.

Photographers Juan Zapata (Wayka) and independent journalist Juan Mandamiento were attacked by police while covering protests by relatives of those killed during the 2022–2023 demonstrations. Panorama journalists on Panamericana Television were assaulted by relatives of a businesswoman who won major regional government contracts in La Libertad.

Journalist Manuel Calloquispe was threatened with death by a member of the criminal organization ‘Los Guardianes de La Trocha.’ Calloquispe has reported on illegal mining mafias in La Pampa and Madre de Dios for Inforegión, El Comercio, and Latina, including ‘Los Guardianes de La Trocha.’ He initially sought help from the Regional Government of Madre de Dios, but received no response and was evacuated to Lima. He and his family have been threatened before.

Judge and former president of the Superior Court of Justice of Puno, Juan Francisco Ticona Ura, filed a defamation suit and a habeas data claim against journalist Óscar Pareja Castro, director of Los Andes, demanding the removal of a publication questioning the appointment of a court official. Ticona also requested disclosure of the journalist’s source. A Puno court ordered the article removed but did not grant the source disclosure.

Sixteen journalists were injured or harassed while covering protests against the government and Congress in September, according to the National Association of Journalists of Peru. They were covering events for La República, Ojo Público, Hildebrandt en sus Trece, Exitosa, El Foco, ATV, Wayka, Reuters, and Vía TV. The National Police fired pellets at some journalists, such as Jahaira Pacheco and Percy Grados. Some protesters were aggressive, and several journalists suffered theft of equipment and intimidation.