​Protests in Ecuador turned violent in October 2019. | Photo: EFE​​

Quito, March 24 (RHC)-- Ecuador's ombudsman, Freddy Carrión, filed a complaint on Tuesday before the Attorney General's Office against President Lenín Moreno, for crimes against humanity that occurred during the massive protests of October 2019.

The complaint filed by Carrión asks the Attorney General's Office to request before a judge of the National Court of Justice relevant quatelary measures, among them, to prohibit the departure of Lenín Moreno from the South American country.

Carrión also filed the complaint against the former Minister of Government of the Ecuadorian Executive, María Paula Romo, and against the current Minister of Defense, Oswaldo Jarrín, both seriously questioned for the actions of the police and military members who repressed the demonstrators in 2019.

The Ombudsman asks in his complaint the case also be linked to the former general commander of the Police, Nelson Villegas; the former head of State Mayos, Lenin Bolaños; the former general inspector María Fernanda Tamayo and the former general director of Operations, Hernán Carrillo.

The complaint comes after the Special Truth Commission presented last March 17 a report where it holds the Ecuadorian State responsible for the human rights violations against protesters that mobilized in October 2019.

In the document presented by Carrión, he asks the authorities to protect him and members of his family from threats due to his denunciation.  "I request the urgent and priority consideration of the admission of my family and myself to the National System of Protection and Assistance to Victims, Witnesses and other Participants in the Criminal Process for having received multiple threats."