Jorge Glas was arrested by Ecuadorian police at the Mexican Embassy in Quito earlier this month, leading to a diplomatic crisis between the two nations.
During his morning press conference, López Obrador announced that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would establish communication with the foreign ministries of Brazil, Bolivia, and other countries to safeguard Glas’s health and address his protection and asylum rights. However, he did not provide further details.
The Mexican president responded to a journalist’s question, who informed him that Glas had sent a letter seeking assistance to López Obrador and the presidents of Colombia (Gustavo Petro) and Brazil (Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva). CNN has not been able to confirm the authenticity of that letter, although it has also been reported by local media in Ecuador. Glas’s team has not responded to a request for comments sent on Thursday.
López Obrador clarified that he had not received the letter in his office and would consult with Chancellor Alicia Bárcena regarding the matter. The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed CNN that no such letter had been received.
CNN is also investigating whether the Colombian and Brazilian presidents have received the alleged missive from Glas.
Glas was arrested during a security operation by Ecuadorian forces on April 5 inside the Mexican Embassy in Quito, where he had sought asylum, citing political persecution. The former official, who was under a capture order and still faces corruption allegations that he denies, was detained and taken to a maximum-security prison in Guayaquil, where he began a hunger strike.
Last week, an Ecuadorian court ruled that the arrest of the former vice president within the Mexican Embassy was “arbitrary and illegal,” but it also ordered that Glas remain in custody to serve two pending sentences.
As a result of the embassy operation, which the Ecuadorian government claimed was necessary due to a risk of Glas fleeing despite Mexico granting him asylum, President López Obrador’s administration severed diplomatic relations and filed a complaint with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Despite their efforts to assist Glas, López Obrador emphasized that this would not prevent him from denouncing the Ecuadorian government and seeking sanctions.
Source: CNN
