Olsztyn Prosecutor's Office receives first documents on death of Polish activist in Ecuador
The Olsztyn prosecutor's office has received the first documents from Ecuador regarding the investigation into the death of Polish activist Monika Silva-Veras, found dead on 8 June in her apartment in Montanita. The woman had reported municipal corruption and received death threats.
Olsztyn Prosecutor's Office receives first documents on death of Polish activist in Ecuador
The Olsztyn District Prosecutor's Office has obtained, through Polish diplomatic services, the first documents relating to the investigation being conducted in Ecuador into the death of Polish citizen Monika Silva-Veras, born Koniuszek. These materials are being translated from Spanish and analysed by investigators.
The activist, who had lived in Ecuador for more than a decade, was found dead on 8 June in her home in Montanita, a coastal town. Silva-Veras chaired the foundation La Integridad and had publicly reported alleged cases of corruption by local authorities, including irregularities in the sale of municipal land in Santa Elena province. For months, she had reported receiving threats and feared for her safety.
The day after the body was discovered, Ecuador's Interior Minister, John Reimberg, told media that the suicide hypothesis was being considered. However, human rights organisations representing the victim's family subsequently confirmed, based on autopsy results, that Silva-Veras had been murdered.
The Polish prosecutor's office initiated its own proceedings on 12 June, as the woman's last known address in Polish territory fell under the jurisdiction of Olsztyn. Prosecutor Brodowski explained that the initial classification is death by negligence, although this could be changed as the proceedings progress.
Among the requests made to Ecuadorian authorities are certified copies of the inspection protocols of the crime scene, witness statements and expert opinions relating to the autopsy. The delivery of material evidence collected in the case was also requested, to the extent permitted by Ecuadorian legislation.
The victim's mother travelled to Ecuador and maintains contact with the Polish Embassy in Peru, which also covers Ecuadorian territory. She will be interviewed as a witness upon her return to the country.
Both the European Union delegation in Quito and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights have demanded that Ecuadorian authorities conduct a quick and transparent investigation.
Source: Interia