Former Ecuadorean Vice President Jorge Glas, twice convicted for corruption, has sought political asylum in Mexico. He alleged persecution by the attorney general’s office, according to his lawyer on Friday.
Glas, who served as vice president from 2013 to 2017 under the leftist government of Rafael Correa, has been residing as a “guest” inside the Mexican embassy in Quito since the weekend.
The attorney general’s office requested a meeting with Glas concerning a case related to public funds allocated for the reconstruction of coastal Manabi province after a 2016 earthquake.
Lawyer Eduardo Franco Loor, confirming Glas’s asylum request on Wednesday, asserted, “There has been political persecution since 2017, which has escalated recently by the attorney general, who arbitrarily is attempting to process and detain Jorge Glas, who is innocent. There is tremendous political hatred.”
As of now, the Mexican government has not responded to requests for comments.
Glas, 54, was sentenced to six years in prison in 2017 for accepting bribes from Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht. In 2020, he received another eight-year prison sentence, alongside Correa, for using contractor funds to finance political campaigns.
Despite being released in November 2022 after completing five years of his sentences, Glas is restricted from leaving Ecuador during the remaining duration of his convictions.
While the legislature declined to authorize a trial over the Manabi case on Thursday, the attorney general’s office insists on pursuing charges. The Ecuadorean government contends that Glas’ request for diplomatic asylum is legally invalid due to his convictions.
The Mexican government has previously granted asylum to various officials from Correa’s decade-long government, who claim to be victims of political persecution.
