Mexico has taken its case to the International Court of Justice to request the removal of Ecuador from the United Nations after a controversial police raid on its embassy in Quito.
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced that Mexico lodged a formal complaint with the court, denouncing Ecuador’s actions as a breach of international law.
Lopez Obrador emphasized that the court should approve the expulsion without any hindrance, citing the United Nations Charter.
Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena also condemned Ecuador’s actions on social media, demanding accountability for violating the sanctity of the Mexican embassy and attacking its staff.
She stressed the importance of adhering to international law in all actions taken.
Mexico’s argument revolves around a police raid that led to the apprehension of former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas, who was seeking refuge in the Mexican embassy to evade arrest.
While embassies are not considered foreign soil, they are protected under international law, shielding embassy personnel from local law enforcement interference.
The 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations explicitly states that embassy premises are inviolable, barring entry by the host country’s authorities without consent.
However, this principle has also been exploited by individuals like Glas to evade legal consequences by seeking asylum in foreign embassies.
Glas, convicted twice on corruption charges, had been staying at the Mexican embassy since December before his recent arrest.
Post from www.aljazeera.com