Ecuadorian armed forces on Friday broke into the Mexican embassy in Quito, which housed the former Ecuadorian Vice President, Jorge Glas.

The invasion came hours after the Mexican government granted political asylum to Glas who had been taking refuge in the Mexican embassy since last December. Ex Vice President, Glas, is Ecuador’s most wanted individual, having been found guilty of bribery and corruption charges. 

A post by Ecuador’s president on Friday night read, “Ecuador is a sovereign nation and we are not going to allow any criminal to stay free.” 

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, President of Mexico confirmed the violation in a statement that read, “Ecuadorian police forcibly entered our embassy and detained the former [Ecuadorian] vice president of that country, who was a refugee and seeking asylum due to the persecution and harassment he is facing.’’ 

He tagged the invasion a “flagrant violation of international law and Mexico’s sovereignty.”

He confirmed that upon cognizance of the violation, he instructed the foreign minister to issue a statement and proceed to take prompt legal action, and announce the suspension of diplomatic relations with the Ecuadorian government.

Mexico’s secretary of foreign relations, Alicia Barcena, announced that some diplomats suffered injuries as a result of the rabid invasion, violating the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations. 

A day before, the tension between both countries had deepened after Lopez Obrador criticized Ecuador’s last election which saw the win of Daniel Noboa. Ecuador viewed the statement to be insensitive and in response, declared the Mexican ambassador persona non grata.