The US State Department prohibits Rafael Correa and Jorge Glas from entering the country

( Spanish) – The United States Department of State announced this Wednesday a ban on former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa and former Vice President Jorge Glas from entering the country, arguing that both were involved in “significant corruption” when they held their positions.

The State Department said in a statement that Correa and Glas were designated as ineligible to enter the United States because it was considered that they “abused their positions” by accepting bribes, including political contributions, in exchange for favorable public works contracts.

“This designation reaffirms our commitment to combating global corruption, including at the highest levels of government,” the statement added.

Correa was president of Ecuador between 2007 and 2017. After concluding his term, he established his residence in Belgium. The former president faces an eight-year prison sentence and an extradition request for the crime of bribery derived from the “Bribery 2012-2016” case, although he denies having violated the law and affirms that the accusations against him constitute political persecution.

The former president published in X messages in which he rejected the US decision to prohibit him from entering the country. “They even involve my family. “There is no right!” he said.

Gla is detained in Ecuador. In April, the Police removed him from the Mexican embassy in Quito – where he had received political asylum -, a fact that caused the Mexican government to break relations with the South American country. Ecuadorian authorities say Glas is guilty of corruption and must face justice. The former official, who was vice president during the mandates of Correa and Lenín Moreno, maintains that he is politically persecuted.

The State Department also included Correa’s wife, two daughters and a son in the ban on entering the country. Also to Glas’ wife and son.

The US ambassador to Ecuador, Art Brown, stated in his X account that “Correa and Glas abused their positions as president and vice president of Ecuador by accepting bribes” and added: “This measure taken by the government of the United States “United States makes clear that no one, regardless of rank, is exempt from compliance with the law.”

Spanish jurist Aitor Martínez, international defense lawyer for Correa and Glas, told that “the US sanctions system is a political instrument.” He added that the measure is a “unilateral decision” imposed by the US government that is loaded with “political content.” He rejected the inclusion of relatives of Correa and Glas in this decision because he stated that they have no conviction or accusation. “The designation seeks to do harm,” he remarked.

The lawyer considered that the decision is a way to influence the Ecuadorian elections and benefit the current government. He indicated that the State Department does not take into account that Interpol has not issued arrest warrants and that third countries have granted asylum to some convicted for the same case for which they are declared “ineligible” to enter US territory. . to Correa and Glas.