Mexico

Former Ecuador VP Glas Hospitalized After Embassy Arrest

APR 7 2024·Updated AUG 27

Story

Image credit: AgenciaAndes/Flickr [via Wikimedia Commons]

The Facts

The detained former Ecuadorian Vice President at the center of a diplomatic row with Mexico, Jorge Glas, has been hospitalized. He is in stable condition after feeling ill, prison authorities stated after his lawyers claimed to be unable to contact him.
Reuters
Convicted on bribery and corruption charges, Glas was arrested late on Friday when police broke into the Mexican embassy in Quito, where he had been residing since December, hours after he was granted political asylum.
The Associated Press
The following day, Mexico denounced the raid in which police forces allegedly assaulted diplomats and cut all diplomatic relations with Ecuador in retaliation.
Breitbart
According to Mexico's foreign ministry, the country's diplomatic staff would immediately leave the South American nation. Under international law, diplomatic premises and personnel are generally considered inviolable.
CNN
Previously, Ecuador had declared the Mexican ambassador "persona non grata," after Pres. Andrés Manuel López Obrador appeared to cast doubt over the legitimacy of the latest Ecuadorian elections.
nytimes
Despite political and ideological differences, many governments across Latin America have rallied around Mexico to condemn the embassy raid, with Nicaragua also severing ties with Ecuador.
Al Jazeera

Sources Split

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The Spin

Narrative A

It's no wonder such widespread outrage erupted over this incident. Ecuador has breached long-established rules on diplomatic immunity with its forces raiding Mexico's embassy in Quito and even injuring staff within the premises. Additionally, this arrest violates the regional 1954 Convention on Diplomatic Asylum.

The Associated Press

Narrative B

Though some may claim that Ecuador has violated international law with this embassy raid and arrest, it's effectively the other way around. It was Mexico that abused its immunities and privileges to illegitimately grant political asylum and provide refuge to a convicted common criminal. The actions taken in Quito were entirely justified.