Ecuadorian Police Invaded Embassy Arrest Former Vice President Jorge Glas, Mexico Inflames Opponents Through The United Nations

Illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Tony Webster)

JAKARTA - Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Mexican Embassy in Ecuador evacuated all of its employees and stopped operating indefinitely after former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas was arrested at the embassy complex. Earlier, according to media reports, Friday, April 5 evening to Saturday, Ecuadorian police stormed into the Mexican Embassy complex in Quito using armed vehicles to capture Glas, who had long taken refuge there. Following the incident, Mexico City cut diplomatic ties with Quito, saying several Mexican diplomats were injured in the raid. Mexico also promised to appeal to the UN International Court and urged the court to condemn the actions of the Ecuadorian government. "Mexico again condemns violations of diplomatic immunity from its embassy in Quito and aggression against its personnel. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will evacuate all diplomatic personnel and their families from Ecuador on Sunday, April 7. The Mexican Embassy will remain closed indefinitely," the Mexican Foreign Ministry said in a statement. a statement reported by Sputnik via Antara, Monday, April 8. Mexican Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena is coordinating the repatriation of all accredited diplomatic personnel to Ecuador and their families on the instructions of Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the statement read. A number of countries have offered their support to ensure the safety of Mexican diplomats and accompany them to the airport at Quito. "We take care of our diplomats; they are not alone. They have shown dignity and politeness, as can be seen from the attitude ofatur Serur, our ambassador, and Roberto Canseco, deputy head of mission at the embassy," Obrador was quoted as saying in the statement. Glas previously served five years in prison for bribery and criminal conspiracy before being released at the end of 2022.

However, in December 2023, he was sentenced to six more years in prison in a corruption case involving Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, currently known as Novonor. Glas took refuge at the Mexican Embassy in the same month, before his official arrest warrant was issued. On April 5, 2024, Mexico decided to give Glas political asylum. Ecuador called Mexico's decision illegal and demanded the politician's extradition.