Ecuador: Correa supporters plan protest in Quito Sep. 13 /update 3

Event

Supporters of former President Rafael Correa have planned a protest in Quito on Thursday, September 13, to denounce recently proposed economic measures and alleged political persecution by the government. Participants are expected to gather near la Cárcel 4 where former Vice President and Correa ally Jorge Glas is imprisoned. Additional related demonstrations are possible throughout the city. A heightened security presence and localized traffic disruptions are to be expected near all demonstration sites.

Context

On July 3, an arrest warrant was issued for Correa, who has been living in Belgium since leaving office in 2017. Correa is accused of having ordered the 2012 kidnapping of a member of congress who had been convicted of slandering the then-president. Correa has also been linked to corruption scandals related to the energy multinationals Odebrecht and PetroChina, although formal charges were never filed. However, Ecuador's former Vice President Jorge Glas was sentenced to six years in prison in December 2017, charged with accepting bribes while serving under Correa in connection with the Odebrecht scandal.

Advice

Individuals in Ecuador are advised to keep abreast of the situation and avoid all protests as a precaution due to the potential for violence.