Article written by
Anna Proskurina
Communication officer
39 cents stand between citizens and their democratic rights: Proceedings against nature rights defenders in Ecuador raise concerns.
On 18 February 2026, members of the citizen collective YASunidos appeared before the Tribunal Contencioso Electoral (TCE) in Quito for a hearing that lasted more than eight hours. The hearing stems from a complaint filed by the National Electoral Council alleging irregularities in campaign finance reporting linked to the national “Sí al Yasuní” referendum in 2023. The case could result in fines of up to USD 30.000 and the suspension of political rights for four years. The official ruling is awaited.
The complaint concerns the campaign’s finance reports relating to the “Sí al Yasuní” referendum on oil extraction in Yasuní National Park. Reports were submitted, and subsequent corrections were provided at the request of the National Electoral Council. Nevertheless, the authorities now treat this case as a failure to submit financial documents, which raises questions about proportionality, due process and transparency in the application of electoral law.
The proceedings involve issues such as:
- Treating requests for corrections as a failure to submit reports;
- Citing an accounting difference of USD 0.39 as evidence of non-compliance;
- Requesting bank statements that are not issued when an account balance is zero;
- Questioning a USD 100 contribution for lacking notarisation, where the law does not require it;
- Disregarding evidence over formalities such as a specific stamp requirement.
Democracy International e.V. holds that democratic participation must be protected through proportional and transparent procedures. Due process safeguards are fundamental to maintaining trust in democratic institutions.
Links: Watch our mini-documentary on the YASunidos campaign leading up to the 2023 referendum
For media inquiries and further information from the collective, please contact info(at)yasunidos.org
