An Ecuadorean judge has ordered the release of five individuals detained after an alleged attack on President Daniel Noboa’s convoy, ruling that their arrest violated due process, according to defense lawyer Yaku Perez. The group had been accused by the government of attempted murder and terrorism, but prosecutors later reduced the charges to “resistance” during Wednesday’s court hearing.
Perez confirmed to Reuters that the judge deemed the detentions illegal and emphasized that the state’s actions represented an “excessive use of force,” undermining constitutional rights. The prosecutor’s office announced that investigations into the incident will continue despite the release order.
The five detainees include four land defenders and one artist, Perez said. The arrests followed a violent confrontation in a rural town on Tuesday, when protesters threw stones at President Noboa’s passing motorcade. The attack cracked vehicle windows, though Noboa escaped unharmed.
Authorities have labeled the event an assassination attempt, while Indigenous organizations accused security forces of escalating the violence. They argue that the government’s heavy-handed response provoked the clash. The protests began last month after Noboa’s administration eliminated fuel subsidies for consumer diesel — a move that has sparked widespread outrage among rural and Indigenous communities.
Demonstrations have since expanded across multiple provinces, prompting the president to declare a state of emergency in several regions to restore order. The unrest marks one of Noboa’s most significant challenges since taking office, reflecting deep social and economic frustrations in Ecuador over rising living costs and government austerity measures.
The government and police have yet to issue an official statement on the court’s decision or the ongoing investigation into the incident.