Monika Silva's body repatriation delayed in Ecuador

The planned repatriation of the body of Polish anti-corruption activist Monika Silva, also known as Monika Martyna Koniuszek, to Poland has been delayed due to legal and bureaucratic disputes in Ecuador.

Silva, 41, was found dead in June in the Montañita area of Santa Elena. While authorities initially suggested suicide, forensic reports confirmed her death was caused by strangulation and a blow to the head, leading investigators to treat the case as a suspected femicide.

On Thursday, despite previous assurances from the Manglaralto Prosecutor's Office, officials refused to release the body. Representatives from the Ecuadorian Center for the Promotion and Action of Women (CEPAM) and the Permanent Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDH) stated that authorities demanded a specific name on documentation, despite the victim's mother having granted legal power of attorney to the organizations. The delay sparked protests from activists and friends who had gathered at the Santa Elena forensic center for over eight hours.