Peru: Student in Huancayo arrested for carrying a flag in an anti-government demonstration

Published at: 28/05/2026 09:17 AM

Leonardo Enrique Fierro Quispe, a 19-year-old student, was arrested by police officers on May 26 in the city of Huancayo during a public demonstration against Keiko Fujimori. The intervention occurred while the young man was carrying a Peruvian flag that had perforations and red spots.

After the arrest, the Public Ministry launched an investigation against the student on charges of disturbing public order and the alleged crime of insulting national symbols. This legal action has generated an immediate response from the youth's defense, who denounce that the intervention lacks legitimate legal support and maintain that the use of the flag constituted a form of protest protected by the right to freedom of expression and demonstration.

During the operation to disperse the protest, police forces used tear gas to control attendees in the immediate vicinity of the city center. The use of these chemical agents caused a health emergency situation that affected several demonstrators, including an older adult, who, due to the inhalation of the substances, had to be treated urgently by the medical personnel present at the scene.

The arrest of Fierro Quispe generated criticism from civil organizations that monitor respect for human rights and freedom of protest in the region. While the student's lawyers continue their efforts to request his release, the case remains a point of tension in the local political context, reflecting persistent differences over the limits of political expression and the laws that regulate public order in the country.

Mazo News Team