Defendants from Riobamba deny an alleged ‘ambush’ against Correa

The eleven youths arrested in Riobamba, said their defense, would have voluntarily participated in the protests of Thursday, March 19. They were released last Saturday and denied any political connection.

Luis Carvajal, lawyer of the youths, denied incidents or that they had tried to attack President Rafael Correa, while the President ensures that a mob of 50 members of the disappeared MPD would have tried to ambush him by at the time he was participating in a tour with local authorities.

The director of Unidad Popular, Geovanny Atariguana, rejected such claims and described them as absurd arguing that the President himself indicated that 50 people would have attacked 5,000 people who were in his concentration.

Attorney Carvajal blames the President for provoking those who participated in the protest march called by labor and trade sectors in several cities.

The released are between 18 and 34 years old and are being processed by the judge of Criminal Guarantees of Riobamba, Franklin Ocaña, for the alleged offense of threats and resistance, as defined in Section 238 of the Comprehensive Organic Criminal Code.