MOSCOW, January 11. /TASS/. Russian diplomats in Ecuador are not in any danger, as the tensions in the country have not spread into the area where the diplomatic mission is located, Russian Ambassador to Quito Vladimir Sprinchan said on the Rossiya-24 TV channel.
"There were no security problems at all, not only with regard to our embassy, but the diplomatic corps in general," the diplomat said. "Yesterday morning, the heads of all missions accredited in Quito met with the head of state. We exchanged views, and no one voiced even the slightest fear, hint or [the need for] any preventive measures to protect us from possible terrorist attacks."
"Nevertheless, the embassy took the necessary measures related to controlling access to the city. There have been neither attacks nor even any preconditions for the aggravation of the situation in the embassy area," the ambassador said.
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.