Former Vice President of Ecuador Falls Ill Following Arrest at Mexican Embassy
Reports indicate that Glas suffered health issues due to his rejection of the food offered during his detention at the facility.
Ecuador’s former vice president Jorge Glas has been hospitalized. He was taken to a hospital in Guayaquil after falling ill, the country’s national prison agency SNAI said Monday. Days earlier, he had been arrested during a high-profile raid of the Mexican embassy in Quito.
Glas became ill after he refused to eat the food provided to him while in detention, the agency also said.
Paramedics from the Ministry of Public Health took Glas to the Naval Hospital of Guayaquil, where he arrived around 12:45 p.m.
According to SNAI, Glas is in stable condition and will be closely monitored for the next few hours before being taken back to prison.
The news of Vice President Jorge Glas's arrest came after Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa defended the police raid on Friday. Glas, accused of embezzling government funds intended for earthquake reconstruction in 2016, was trying to seek asylum at the embassy during the raid. He was later moved to the high-security La Roca prison in Guayaquil.
His defense has denied the accusations and claims he is facing political persecution. Glas, who was convicted of corruption twice before, worked for former President Rafael Correa from 2013 to 2017.
Mexico was furious about the raid, calling it a clear breach of international law and its sovereignty. As a result, Mexico has taken Ecuador to the International Court of Justice and cut off diplomatic relations.
Police officers stand guard as Ecuador's former Vice President Jorge Glas is expected to arrive at the La Roca Prison on Friday.
Police officers stand guard as Ecuador's former Vice President Jorge Glas is expected to arrive at the La Roca Prison on Friday.
Marcos Pin/Reuters
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Noboa defends the raid
In a letter posted on X (formerly Twitter), President Noboa defended the raid on Monday. He stated that Ecuador couldn't risk the escape of Glas. President Noboa emphasized his duty to follow court rulings and prevent criminals convicted of serious offenses from seeking asylum.
Noboa stated that he has taken strong actions to safeguard national security, uphold the rule of law, and respect the dignity of the people who do not tolerate impunity for criminals, delinquents, corrupt individuals, or narco-terrorists.
He also mentioned his readiness to address any disagreements with Mexico regarding the issue.
I want to assure the people of Mexico that I am always ready to address any disagreements, but it's important to remember that justice cannot be compromised. We will not shield criminals who have caused harm to Mexicans.
It's worth noting that Mexico is not the only neighboring country that has raised concerns about Ecuador's actions.
After Glas was arrested, many Latin American countries, including Brazil and Argentina, showed support for Mexico. Nicaragua also cut off diplomatic relations with the country.
Some countries mentioned that there may have been a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, an international agreement that outlines how countries should interact. Others believed that Glas's right to asylum may have been violated.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has also expressed alarm at the raid.
CNN has attempted to contact Glas’s lawyers.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Editor's P/S:
The arrest of former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas during a raid on the Mexican embassy has sparked international outcry and diplomatic tensions. The raid, which Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa defended as necessary to prevent Glas's escape, has been widely condemned as a
