PERU’S El Salto newspaper published an interview on Tuesday with the country’s ousted former president Pedro Castillo from the Barbadillo maximum security prison in the capital Lima.

Mr Castillo has been in prison since Congress removed him from the presidency on December 7 last year and appointed his deputy Dina Boluarte to the role.

Since the coup by the Congress, Peru has been racked by protests that have been met with a brutal crackdown by authorities, leaving close to 50 dead.

Despite the crackdown, the protesters have continued to demand the removal of Ms Boluarte from the presidency, early presidential and congressional elections and the immediate release of Mr Castillo from detention.

Mr Castillo told the newspaper: “I have feared for my life since the second round of the 2021 elections when the death threats against me and my family began.” 

He recalled that far-right politicians and citizens beat him with metal pieces and bolts in the city of Tacna. He also remembers that Lima Mayor and entrepreneur Rafael Lopez once called for “death to Castillo” during a rally.

Mr Castillo said: “At other times, my family and I were mocked for our dress, accent and background. 

“These attacks are manifestations of hatred and racism,” he stressed, recalling that the Peruvian right even accused him of being a terrorist.

“The harassment was constant and disturbing. Therefore, I had no option other than keeping my wife and children safe,” Mr Castillo said.

The ousted president said he regretted that the harsh restrictions at Barbadillo prison did not allow him to keep in contact with his wife and sons who fled the country and took refuge in Mexico. 

“I never tried to subvert Peruvian institutions. I wanted to get closer to the people. I wanted to demonstrate that popular power is the ultimate expression of society. I did not want to obey economic elites, but to put my people first,” he said about his decisions as president.

The left-wing politician also condemned the prosecutor who opened the case against him not being present at his arrest, which was executed without prior legal process and in front of his family.

Mr Castillo said: “My fundamental rights were violated. I was the victim of a plot. I am the first Peruvian teacher and farmer to hold the presidency.”

He said: “I was democratically elected, but the Peruvian right never accepted my victory.”