Mexico with harsh outcomes against Ecuador in the ICJ

The storming and arrest of Jorge Glas not only led to a full diplomatic breach between the two countries, but has also had an aftermath in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague – the UN’s highest legal body.

When the case was opened on Tuesday, Mexico argued that Ecuador has crossed a border that should never have been crossed, setting a dangerous precedent.

– There are boundaries in international law that should never be crossed. “Unfortunately, Ecuador has crossed that line,” said Mexico’s representative, Alejandro Celorio Alcantara.

Got asylum

The storming happened on 5 April, just after Glas had been granted political asylum in Mexico. It led to strong international reactions from, among other things, several other Latin American countries, Spain, the EU, the USA and the UN.

Both countries will present their case to the ICJ on Tuesday and Wednesday. It may take several years before the case is fully processed, but Mexico has asked the court to take a number of urgent measures against Ecuador.

Among other things, the country demands that Ecuador be suspended as a member of the UN until the country’s authorities make a public apology. Mexico has also requested that the country’s embassy in Quito be given protection so that Mexico has the opportunity to clean the premises and homes of Mexican diplomats, who have now been withdrawn from Ecuador.

Admitted to hospital

Ecuador’s president Daniel Noboa has defended the embassy raid by saying that Glas had to be arrested because of the flight risk.

Two weeks ago, however, one of the country’s courts concluded that the arrest of Glas was illegal, but without ordering Glas’ release, as he demands. He is now hospitalized because he allegedly refused to eat in prison.

Glas was vice-president from 2013–2017, and the corruption he is accused of must have occurred during this period.

Ecuador itself took legal action against Mexico on Monday. The accusations are that Mexico has committed a serious diplomatic breach by giving Glas refuge in the embassy.