Former vice president of Ecuador, Jorge Glas, has been admitted to a hospital in Guayaquil after falling ill. This comes days after his arrest during a high-profile raid of the Mexican embassy in Quito. The country’s national prison agency, SNAI, stated that Glas became ill after refusing to eat the provided food while in detention. Paramedics from the Ministry of Public Health transferred him to the Naval Hospital of Guayaquil, where he is currently under observation.
According to SNAI, Glas is in a stable condition and will remain under observation for the next few hours before being returned to prison. President Daniel Noboa defended the controversial police raid, emphasizing the necessity to prevent Glas’s potential escape. Noboa stated that his obligation is to comply with judicial rulings and protect national security, the rule of law, and the dignity of the people.
Jorge Glas faces accusations of embezzling government funds intended for rebuilding efforts after a devastating earthquake in 2016. He was seeking asylum at the Mexican embassy when the raid occurred. Despite Glas’s defense rejecting the allegations, Ecuadorian authorities transferred him to the maximum security La Roca prison in Guayaquil. Glas, who served under former President Rafael Correa, claims to be a victim of political persecution.
The raid on the Mexican embassy has sparked international controversy. Mexico condemned it as a violation of international law and sovereignty, leading to a severance of diplomatic ties with Ecuador. President Noboa expressed willingness to resolve differences with Mexico but stressed that justice cannot be negotiated, especially when it involves criminals accused of serious crimes.
The incident has garnered criticism from several Latin American countries, including Brazil, Argentina, and Nicaragua. Many cite violations of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and Glas’s right to asylum. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has also expressed alarm at the raid, indicating broader concerns within the international community.
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