Mexican Foreign Ministry’s Response to Ecuador’s Request to Extradite Former Corista Vice President Jorge Glass

Government of Ecuador This Sunday, he asked to call the Mexican embassy George GlassDuring a former Vice President’s tenure Rafael Correa (2007-2017), pursuant to a tax investigation, he was required to leave the diplomatic corps in order to be detained by the police.

For its part, the Foreign Secretary Jorge Claus Espinel of Mexico (SRE) opened the door to the Mexican government granting him political asylum if he requests political asylum.

Mexico’s SRE reasoned that on December 17, 2023, Jorge Claus Espinal “expressed fear for his safety and personal freedom” by entering the headquarters of the Mexican Embassy in Quito to request protection.

The Mexican delegation argued that, “in accordance with the Mexican legal framework regarding the international protection of persons, the protocols for this type of case and the principle of pro-personhood set forth in Article 1 of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States, Klaus Espinel was granted access as a guest.”

As for Ecuador’s foreign ministry, in a statement it released the content of a note sent to the Mexican embassy, ​​where Glass was sent to police to find him amid an order from government attorney general Diana Salazar. , find him. , immobilized and transferred to the headquarters of the Public Ministry in Quito.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “in response to a request made by the State Attorney General’s Office, is authorized to request the urgent cooperation of the Mexican authorities so that the aforementioned citizen is immediately invited to leave the diplomatic representation.”

The purpose is for Claus to “comply with his obligation to appear before a lawyer of the national court’s jurisdiction” and to submit to “a number of investigative measures within the ongoing judicial process” in which he is “accused and prosecuted.” included in the letter.

Ecuador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs further assured, “It would be appreciated that the Honorable Consul of the United Mexican States immediately transmits information on the reason for the presence of Mr. Jorge Glass at the headquarters of that diplomatic mission.”

Likewise, the Ecuadorian government held that “it is not lawful to grant consular asylum to the class” through Article III of the 1954 Convention on Diplomatic Asylum, which “denies that right to those who have been previously accused or duly prosecuted by the courts.” Competent lay officers.”

The article, however, saves in the event that “the facts motivating the asylum claim, whatever they may be, are clearly political in nature”.

Also, the convention states that persons accused of crimes “if they actually enter a place capable of serving as an asylum, must be asked to leave or, as the case may be, handed over to the local government, which cannot try them in previous cases.” Political Offenses.” At the time of delivery”.

Ecuador’s Attorney General Diana Salazar ordered police to locate and detain Glass for investigation purposes, who was already in prison between 2017 and 2022 on corruption charges, which he denies.

On November 29, Judge Luis Rivera granted the National Assembly (Parliament) the opportunity to open a new trial against Glass in the case of embezzlement of public funds, through judicial jurisdiction, a decision the prosecutor’s office described as “unnecessary” because he was no longer a public official.

Klaus pleaded not guilty in two cases after a Brazilian judge overturned evidence of a corruption network at construction company Oderbrecht. EFE