Ecuador police storm Mexico’s embassy in Quito to arrest former vice president Jorge Glas
In a shocking turn of events, Ecuadorian police forcibly entered Mexico’s embassy in Quito to arrest former vice president Jorge Glas, who had been seeking political asylum there. Mexico has since suspended diplomatic relations with Ecuador in response to the incident.
Glas, who had been convicted of corruption charges twice, had been staying in the Mexican embassy since December, claiming he was being persecuted by Ecuadorian officials. Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had offered him political asylum and called on Ecuador to grant him safe passage out of the country.
However, Ecuadorian special forces, donning tactical gear, stormed the embassy on Friday night and arrested Glas. The Ecuadorian presidency defended the action, stating that they would not allow any criminal to remain free in their sovereign nation.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador condemned the raid as an authoritarian act and a violation of international law and Mexico’s sovereignty. Many Ecuadorians viewed the situation as a mockery of justice, as Glas, a convicted former vice president, was being granted political asylum by Mexico, a country where he is an ally of the president.
The incident has escalated tensions between the two countries, with Mexico announcing that it will take the case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to hold Ecuador accountable for violating the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations. Mexican diplomatic personnel will be leaving Ecuador immediately.
The situation had been further strained by remarks made by President Lopez Obrador about Ecuador’s elections and the assassination of a presidential candidate last year. Ecuador responded by declaring the Mexican ambassador persona non grata and ordering her to leave the country.
Ecuador has been facing a new wave of violence, including prison riots, criminal escapes, and armed attacks on live television broadcasts. The arrest of Glas and the diplomatic fallout with Mexico have added to the country’s challenges in maintaining stability and security.