Ecuadorian El Encuentro prison conditions and inmate status

Interior Minister John Reimberg conducted a tour of the El Encuentro maximum-security prison in Santa Elena, where he denied allegations that the facility holds “no political prisoners.” Reimberg stated that of the approximately 600 inmates, roughly 480 are incarcerated for crimes such as drug trafficking, organized crime, and corruption.

Addressing the presence of high-profile figures like Jorge Glas, Aquiles Álvarez, and José Serrano, the minister maintained that their detention is a matter of legal processing rather than political persecution. Regarding former Vice President Jorge Glas, Reimberg asserted that he has access to necessary medications and was transferred to the facility to receive improved medical care. Concurrently, legal counsel for Glas has requested an urgent hearing to address his deteriorating mental and physical health, citing issues including anxiety, hallucinations, and psychotic episodes. A judge has scheduled a hearing for October 1 to review his prison conditions.

More recently, Minister Reimberg warned of potential unrest at El Encuentro, including possible hunger strikes and riots. He stated that the government will not yield to “pressure or destabilization attempts,” emphasizing that state order is non-negotiable and that prison privileges have ended. Reimberg criticized certain individuals within the facility for allegedly attempting to use the prison as a “political stage,” noting that some have transitioned from political roles to seeking leadership among inmates. There are currently no confirmed reports of an active hunger strike or ongoing riot.