The International Court of Justice has received a lawsuit from Ecuador against Mexico for granting asylum to its former vice president at the Mexican embassy in Quito. The lawsuit was filed on April 29 by Ecuador, accusing Mexico of violating international obligations by providing asylum to Jorge Glas.
In November 2022, after his release from prison in Ecuador for corruption linked to Odebrecht, a Brazilian construction company, Glas sought refuge at the Mexican embassy in Quito. Following an attempt by Ecuadorian police to arrest him on April 5, Mexico City severed diplomatic ties with Quito and filed a counter-lawsuit at the ICJ against Ecuador. The trial is set to begin on April 30.
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations states that countries must respect each other’s internal affairs and not interfere in their legal processes. Many countries and organizations, including the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations, have criticized Ecuador for violating this convention.
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa defended the raid as necessary to ensure that justice was served. However, critics argue that it was a breach of international law and an example of interference in Ecuador’s internal affairs. The outcome of this case will set a precedent for how countries handle asylum seekers who have committed crimes in their home countries.
