Legal proceedings face delays in Ecuador and Venezuela

In Ecuador, the Pichincha Provincial Court of Justice suspended an appeal hearing regarding the PCR testing case. The prosecution is seeking to overturn the innocence status of former Quito Mayor Jorge Yunda and 13 others. The case involves a 2020 contract for 100,000 COVID-19 PCR tests totaling $4.2 million, with allegations that the company provided less sensitive RT-LAMP tests instead.

In Venezuela, human rights defender Linda Loaiza reported a new delay in her legal case, which has spanned over 25 years. The hearing intended to review appeals against the acquittal of Luis Carrera Almoina for sexual abuse and kidnapping was postponed. Additionally, the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) ruled the economic emergency state decreed by Delcy Rodríguez as constitutional for a 60-day period.