• Former President Martin Vizcarra sentenced to 14 years in prison for corruption.
• He was found guilty of accepting bribes totaling over $600,000 during his time as governor.
• Vizcarra maintains that the charges are politically motivated and plans to appeal the verdict.
• He joins three other former presidents currently imprisoned for corruption in Peru.
• This sentencing contributes to ongoing political instability in the country.

A Peruvian court has sentenced former president Martin Vizcarra to 14 years in prison after he was found guilty of corruption linked to his tenure as governor of the Moquegua region from 2011 to 2014. Specifically, he was convicted of accepting bribes equivalent to over $600,000, which he received from construction companies in exchange for favorable public works contracts according to Reuters, Le Monde, and Al Jazeera.

The court's ruling also imposes a nine-year ban on Vizcarra from holding public office and includes a fine. He plans to appeal the decision, asserting, “This is not justice, it is revenge,” as stated on social media. Throughout the trial, he has consistently claimed political persecution and denied wrongdoing, a stance supported by his historical role as a self-proclaimed champion against corruption while he was in office, according to Reuters and Le Monde.

The ruling adds Vizcarra to a list of four former presidents imprisoned for corruption in what highlights ongoing stability issues within Peru's political landscape. Since 2018, the country has experienced political turmoil, with six presidents cycling through office, often compelled to resign or impeached due to corruption allegations. Notably, other jailed former leaders include Pedro Castillo, Ollanta Humala, and Alejandro Toledo, emphasizing a troubling trend in Peruvian governance, as detailed by Reuters, Le Monde, and Al Jazeera.