Dolores Ochoa/AP
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Mexico took Ecuador to the United Nations' highest court on Tuesday, accusing it of violating international law when it stormed Mexico's embassy in Quito to arrest its former vice president who had just been granted asylum in Mexico.
The April 5 raid, hours after Mexico granted asylum to former Vice President Jorge Glass, heightened tensions that had been rising between the two countries since Glass, a convicted criminal and fugitive, took refuge in the embassy in December. .
Leaders across Latin America condemned the raid as a blatant violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Ecuador said Glass was wanted on corruption charges, not political reasons, and argued that Mexico's granting asylum to convicted criminals itself was a violation of the Vienna Convention.
A preliminary hearing at the International Court of Justice two mornings focused on Mexico's request to enforce temporary orders, known as interim measures, while the case progresses through the courts. This process is likely to take several months.
Among the measures Mexico is seeking is for the World Court to order Ecuador to take “appropriate and immediate measures to provide full protection and security of diplomatic buildings” and prevent further incursions. Ecuador also wants Mexico to allow its diplomats and diplomats to vacate their homes.
In the case filed April 11, Mexico asked the court to pay compensation and suspend Ecuador's membership in the United Nations.
On Monday, Ecuador also filed a lawsuit at the International Court of Justice, accusing Mexico of using its embassy “to shield Mr. Glass from the enforcement of Ecuador's criminal laws,” and asserting that such actions were “above all, blatant crimes.” “It was a misuse of the diplomatic mission’s building.”
It asked the court to rule that Mexico's actions violated a number of international conventions. A hearing date for the case brought by Ecuador was not immediately set.