On 4 February 2025, the Espinar Single Criminal Court acquitted environmental defender Sergio Huamaní of the defamation complaint filed by Antapaccay Mining Company SA. The complaint stemmed from statements Huamaní made in 2023 regarding the mining company’s impacts in Espinar, in the Cusco region, as well as corruption cases involving the multinational Glencore.
Initially, in May 2024, Huamaní was convicted of aggravated defamation and sentenced by the court of first instance to one year of suspended imprisonment and ordered to pay 10,000 soles. However, in the second instance, his sentence was overturned, with the court ruling that his statements were protected by freedom of expression.
The ruling in favor of Sergio Huamaní can serve as a legal precedent to strengthen the defense of freedom of expression and the protection of social leaders against lawsuits intended to silence them.