Moscow, Russia – October 15, 2025 – In a measured diplomatic response amid shifting political landscapes in Latin America, Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday characterized the recent impeachment and leadership change in Peru as purely an internal affair of the South American nation. The statement, released via official channels, underscored Moscow's commitment to non-interference while highlighting the enduring bilateral ties between the two countries. This comes at a time when Peru grapples with domestic turmoil, including rising crime rates that precipitated the congressional action against former President Dina Boluarte.
The Foreign Ministry's spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, elaborated during a briefing that Russia "views the change of power in Peru as an internal matter for the country." Extending formal courtesies, the ministry conveyed "best wishes to the country’s new leader," Jose Jeri, who stepped into the interim presidency following a decisive vote in Peru's Congress. Zakharova emphasized that Moscow harbors no intent to meddle, aligning with Russia's broader foreign policy doctrine of respecting national sovereignty, especially in regions far from its immediate sphere of influence.
This episode marks another chapter in Peru's volatile political history, a nation that has seen six presidents since 2016 amid corruption scandals, social unrest, and economic pressures. Boluarte, who ascended to the presidency in December 2022 after the ouster of her predecessor Pedro Castillo, faced mounting criticism for her administration's handling of security issues. The impeachment on October 10 was approved by a supermajority in Congress, with 87 votes in favor out of 130 members, citing "moral incapacity" under Article 113 of the Peruvian Constitution. Specifically, lawmakers accused Boluarte's government of failing to curb a dramatic surge in violent crime, including extortion rackets, assassinations linked to organized crime syndicates, and gang-related activities that have plagued urban centers like Lima and Trujillo.
According to official Peruvian statistics from the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI), homicide rates climbed by 25% in the first nine months of 2025 compared to the previous year, reaching over 1,200 reported cases nationwide. This escalation has been attributed to factors such as the infiltration of transnational criminal networks from neighboring countries, weakened law enforcement due to budget cuts, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on social stability. Public protests erupted in major cities following waves of kidnappings and drive-by shootings, with citizens demanding accountability. Boluarte's approval rating had plummeted to below 10% in polls conducted by Ipsos Peru just weeks before the vote, reflecting widespread disillusionment.
Under Peru's constitutional framework, the congressional leader automatically assumes interim executive powers in such vacancies. Jose Jeri, a 58-year-old career politician from the centrist Alliance for Progress party, has served as President of Congress since July 2025. A lawyer by training with a background in regional governance in northern Peru, Jeri has pledged to prioritize public security and economic recovery during his tenure. In his first address to the nation on October 11, he announced the formation of a crisis cabinet focused on bolstering police forces and negotiating international aid for anti-crime initiatives. "Our nation deserves peace and order," Jeri stated from the Government Palace in Lima. "We will work tirelessly to restore trust until the Peruvian people choose their next leader in free elections."
Elections are slated for April 12, 2026, as mandated by law, with a potential runoff in June if no candidate secures a majority. This timeline allows for a six-month transition period, during which Jeri is barred from running for office to maintain neutrality. Political analysts predict a crowded field, including figures from left-wing parties like Free Peru, which supported Castillo, and right-leaning groups advocating for tougher anti-corruption measures. International observers from the Organization of American States (OAS) have been invited to monitor the process, ensuring transparency amid concerns over electoral integrity.
Russia's response highlights the strategic importance it places on relations with Peru, describing it as a "long-standing partner in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region." Diplomatic ties date back to 1863, when the Russian Empire established consular relations with the Republic of Peru, surviving through various global upheavals including the Cold War and Peru's internal conflicts in the 1980s and 1990s. Bilateral trade has grown modestly in recent years, reaching approximately $500 million in 2024, primarily involving Russian exports of fertilizers, machinery, and wheat to Peru, while Peru supplies minerals like copper and zinc—critical for Russia's industrial needs amid Western sanctions over the Ukraine conflict.
The Foreign Ministry reiterated its advocacy for "non-opportunistic, non-influenced bilateral relations based on equality and sovereignty, pragmatism and mutual consideration of national interests, and respect for the fundamental principles of international law." This phrasing echoes Russia's standard diplomatic rhetoric, often employed to counter perceptions of great-power interference in global affairs. In the context of Latin America, Moscow has sought to expand influence through forums like the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), where it positions itself as an alternative to U.S. dominance. Peru, a member of the Pacific Alliance and with observer status in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), represents a bridge for Russia in multilateral engagements.
Historically, Russia and Peru have collaborated on several fronts. In 2014, they signed agreements on energy exploration, with Russian firm Gazprom expressing interest in Peru's natural gas fields. Cultural exchanges, including student programs and art exhibitions, have persisted, bolstered by the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Lima. During the pandemic, Russia supplied Sputnik V vaccines to Peru, aiding in vaccination drives that reached over 80% of the population by 2023. More recently, in 2025, joint military exercises in peacekeeping were discussed, though not formalized due to Peru's neutral stance in global conflicts.
The Kremlin's hands-off approach contrasts with reactions from other global players. The United States, through the State Department, issued a statement calling for "democratic continuity" and offering support for the electoral process, while expressing concerns over human rights during Boluarte's term, including allegations of excessive force in quelling protests. China, Peru's largest trading partner with investments exceeding $15 billion in mining and infrastructure, affirmed its respect for Peru's sovereignty but urged stability to protect ongoing projects like the Chancay megaport, inaugurated in late 2024.
Regionally, neighbors such as Brazil and Chile have welcomed the transition, with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva phoning Jeri to discuss border security cooperation against drug trafficking. The Andean Community, of which Peru is a founding member, issued a joint communique supporting constitutional order.
For Russia, this episode occurs against the backdrop of its own domestic and international priorities. With the ongoing special military operation in Ukraine entering its fourth year, Moscow has intensified efforts to cultivate alliances in the Global South to counter isolation. Latin America, with its voting bloc in the United Nations, has been a key arena; Peru abstained from several UN resolutions condemning Russia in 2022-2023, reflecting a pragmatic neutrality.
Economically, Peru's instability could ripple into commodity markets. As the world's second-largest copper producer, any prolonged unrest might disrupt supplies, affecting global prices amid demand from electric vehicle manufacturing. Russia's interest in stable partners is thus not merely rhetorical—Peru's minerals feed into supply chains that bypass Western restrictions on Russian resources.
Interim President Jeri faces immediate hurdles: reforming the national police, estimated at 140,000 officers but plagued by corruption scandals, and addressing economic woes with inflation hovering at 4.5% and unemployment at 7%. He has appealed for international loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which approved a $2 billion standby arrangement in September 2025 contingent on fiscal reforms.
As Peru navigates this interregnum, Russia's hopeful stance underscores a broader theme in international relations: the preference for predictable partnerships amid uncertainty. With elections looming, the Andean nation's path could influence hemispheric dynamics, from migration flows to trade pacts. Moscow's message of mutual respect may pave the way for continued engagement, irrespective of the vote's outcome.
In the coming months, observers will watch how Jeri balances internal reforms with external diplomacy. For now, Russia's acknowledgment serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of global politics, where even distant events like a congressional impeachment in Lima echo in the halls of the Kremlin.
