Mexico said it is cutting diplomatic relations with Ecuador after police stormed the Mexican embassy in Quito to arrest former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas who had taken refuge in the building.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador called the embassy raid a “flagrant violation of international law” in a post on social media.
The Ecuadorian government confirmed the arrest in a statement on X.
Glas took refuge in the embassy last December after Ecuador issued an arrest warrant against him for alleged corruption, according to media reports. His lawyer said he was innocent.
Glas served as Ecuador’s vice president from 2013 to 2017, when he was relieved of his duties because of mounting corruption charges against him, according to the reports. He was then sentenced to six years in jail in connection with corruption at the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht.
Ecuadorian authorities are still investigating more allegations against him, according to the media reports.
Glas was released from prison in November, but Ecuadorian authorities then issued another arrest warrant, prompting Glas to seek refuge in the Mexican embassy.
The post Mexico cuts diplomatic ties with Ecuador after raid on embassy in Quito appeared first on Politico.