US bars ex-Ecuador president, former vice president entry to the country

10/10/2024 6:14

        The U.S. State Department
        has barred former Ecuador President Rafael Correa and former
        Vice President Jorge Glas from entry into the United States due
        to involvement in corruption, the department said on Wednesday.
        
        "Correa and Glas abused their positions as former president
        of Ecuador and former vice president of Ecuador, respectively,
        by accepting bribes, including through political contributions,
        in exchange for granting favorable government contracts," the
        State Department said in a statement.
        
        The department said it also barred the spouses and children
        of the former Ecuador officials from entering the U.S.
        
        The former president lives in Belgium and has been convicted
        of corruption and sentenced to prison. He has denied the
        accusations, describing the case against him as one of political
        persecution led by his opponents.
        
        The former vice president, also convicted of corruption, was
        jailed in Ecuador. He attempted suicide earlier this year and
        went on a hunger strike in a prison to protest his arrest,
        according to his lawyer.
        
        Mexico and Ecuador had filed lawsuits against each other at
        the World Court after the April arrest of Glas, who had been
        living in the Mexican embassy in Quito.
        
        Mexico accused Ecuador of violating international law by
        breaching the embassy, while Ecuador accused Mexico of illegally
        granting asylum to Glas.