Journalist murdered in Ecuador despite being under prosecution office protection
Beltrán, director of the digital media outlet Calcetines, was murdered near his home in Ecuador whilst under state protection. The SIP demands an investigation and calls for determination of whether there were institutional failings.
Journalist under state protection murdered in Ecuador
Beltrán, director of the community digital media outlet Calcetines, was murdered near his home in Ecuador, according to caracol.com.co. Those responsible fled the scene, according to reports cited by the Inter-American Press Association (SIP). So far, authorities have not identified the perpetrators or established a motive for the crime.
The SIP requested a thorough investigation to determine whether the murder is related to Beltrán's journalistic work and to establish possible responsibility for the threats he had received.
According to the Press Journalists Protection Coordination Board (MAPP), in April of this year Beltrán received threatening leaflets at his home. Two collaborators from the media outlet he directed had already been murdered previously.
Since May 2025, the journalist had been enrolled in the Prosecution's Victims and Witnesses Protection System. However, MAPP had warned that the measures adopted were insufficient to guarantee his safety.
SIP president Carlos Jornet described it as unacceptable that a journalist who had reported threats and had official protection was murdered. Jornet called on authorities to act urgently and determine whether there was a connection between the previous intimidation and the crime.
Martha Ramos, president of the SIP's Press Freedom and Information Commission, noted that the case demonstrates the need for protection mechanisms to respond promptly to risk alerts.
The SIP also requested an evaluation of the effectiveness of the protection measures Beltrán had and a determination of whether there were institutional failings that contributed to leaving him exposed.
Source: Google News EC — Crime