"The U.S. is persecuting Rafael Correa – and his family."

This illegitimate and interventionist action not only represents a significant interference in Ecuador's current electoral process but also constitutes a reprehensible attack on innocent family members who have no involvement in the political sphere.

The arbitrary nature of this decision is particularly alarming, as it extends beyond the politicians themselves to explicitly name President Correa's children and wife in the U.S. State Department's announcement. This unwarranted targeting of family members is a gross violation of ethical standards and human rights.

The pretext for this decision is the so-called "Arroz Verde" case, in which Correa was found "guilty" on the absurd charge of "psychic influence." It is crucial to note that Correa's basic right to defense was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in the most accelerated conviction in the history of Ecuador's legal system – a mere 17 days. This rushed and unlawful sentence was widely recognized as a mechanism to block Rafael Correa's participation in the 2020-2021 elections and prevent his registration as a candidate.

The legitimacy of this persecution is further undermined by the fact that, with regards to this lawsuit, INTERPOL has rejected three different requests for red alerts by Ecuador’s politicized justice system and five different countries have granted formal political asylum to people charged, acknowledging them as victims of persecution in their country.

The timing of this new "designation" by the U.S. State Department is beyond suspicious. Coming years after the original conviction and coinciding with the beginning of the pre-campaign for the February 2025 election, it strongly suggests that this action is not related to the rule of law in Ecuador.

Rather, it appears to be a retaliatory move following the fraternal embrace between Julian Assange and Rafael Correa last week, which occurred after the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe recognized Assange as a political prisoner held at the behest of the U.S. Government during his time in exile at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.

The Progressive International vehemently calls for the immediate restoration of all political rights to Rafael Correa and the elimination of this absurd U.S. designation that seeks to defame him and his family on spurious grounds.

We condemn this blatant attempt to interfere in Ecuador's democratic processes and demand that the international community take notice of this egregious abuse of power.