MOSCOW, January 11. /TASS/. The Russian embassy has not received any information about Russians being injured during the riots in Ecuador, Russian Ambassador to Ecuador Vladimir Sprinchan said on the Rossiya-24 TV channel.

"As of at least today, we have no information about casualties or, God forbid, deaths," the diplomat said.

The ambassador noted that the diplomatic mission is in touch with Russians living in Ecuador. "We keep in touch not only with the official authorities to understand the situation, but also with our compatriots. We have links with them in many cities of Ecuador. There are about five thousand of them across the country. Of course, we cannot cover all of them, but through the contacts we have, through the staff of the honorary consulate in the second most important city of Guayaquil, we are trying to monitor this situation," said Sprinchan.

The security threat in Ecuador escalated on January 7 after a Los Choneros gang leader, nicknamed Fito, escaped from prison. Afterward, riots broke out in several penitentiaries. Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency in the country and imposed a curfew on January 8.

On January 9, Noboa signed a decree recognizing the country’s internal armed conflict and ordered the neutralization of 22 criminal groups. The announcement was made after the hostage-taking of TC Televisi·n employees who were broadcasting live from a studio in Guayaquil at the time. Police detained 13 people, all hostages were released.