Christian Zurita, an investigative journalist, replaced his murdered friend, Fernando Villavicencio, as presidential candidate. Christian has not been able to mourn his friend and has not been able to sleep well since August 9. Amidst the fear of his friends and family he accepted the candidacy, a candidacy under siege.
Christian Zurita, presidential candidate for the Construye party, arrives at the airport surrounded by his security capsule in Quito, Ecuador, on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. The party of assassinated Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio has chosen Zurita, a friend and close associate of his, to run in the nation’s convulsed elections. Photographer: Karen Toro/Bloomberg
Christian Zurita, presidential candidate for the Construye party, poses after an interview in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. The party of assassinated Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio has chosen Zurita, a friend and close associate of his, to run in the nation’s convulsed elections. Photographer: Karen Toro/Bloomberg
Members of Christian Zurita's security capsule inside his campaign headquarters in Quito, Ecuador, on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. The party of assassinated Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio has chosen Zurita, a friend and close associate of his, to run in the nation’s convulsed elections. Photographer: Karen Toro/Bloomberg
Christian Zurita, presidential candidate for the Construye party, has dinner with friends and members of his campaign in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. The party of assassinated Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio has chosen Zurita, a friend and close associate of his, to run in the nation’s convulsed elections. Photographer: Karen Toro/Bloomberg
Christian Zurita, presidential candidate for the Construye party, talk on the phone before lunch in Quito, Ecuador, on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. The party of assassinated Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio has chosen Zurita, a friend and close associate of his, to run in the nation’s convulsed elections. Photographer: Karen Toro/Bloomberg
Christian Zurita, presidential candidate for the Construye party, leaves his campaign headquarters surrounded by his security capsule in Quito, Ecuador, on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. The party of assassinated Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio has chosen Zurita, a friend and close associate of his, to run in the nation’s convulsed elections. Photographer: Karen Toro/Bloomberg
Members of security forces guarding Christian Zurita in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. The party of assassinated Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio has chosen Zurita, a friend and close associate of his, to run in the nation’s convulsed elections. Photographer: Karen Toro/Bloomberg
Panoramic view of Guayaquil, Ecuador on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. Guayaquil is one of the most dangerous cities in the country and where most prison massacres have taken place. Photographer: Karen Toro/Bloomberg
Exterior of the Zonal 8 Deprivation of Liberty Center or Regional Jail in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. Guayaquil is one of the most dangerous cities in the country and where most prison massacres have taken place. Photographer: Karen Toro/Bloomberg
Exterior of the Litoral Penitentiary, in the Guayaquil prison complex. The sign reads: We want Fito back. Alias Fito is the leader of one of the country's biggest criminal gangs in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. Guayaquil is one of the most dangerous cities in the country and where most prison massacres have taken place. Photographer: Karen Toro/Bloomberg
Christian Zurita, presidential candidate for the Construye party, speaks during an interview in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. The party of assassinated Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio has chosen Zurita, a friend and close associate of his, to run in the nation’s convulsed elections. Photographer: Karen Toro/Bloomberg
Christian Zurita, presidential candidate for the Construye party, speaks during an interview in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. The party of assassinated Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio has chosen Zurita, a friend and close associate of his, to run in the nation’s convulsed elections. Photographer: Karen Toro/Bloomberg
Billy Navarrete, director of the Permanent Committee for Human Rights, speaks during an interview in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. Photographer: Karen Toro/Bloomberg
Christian Zurita, presidential candidate for the Construye party, arrives at the airport surrounded by his security capsule in Quito, Ecuador, on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. The party of assassinated Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio has chosen Zurita, a friend and close associate of his, to run in the nation’s convulsed elections. Photographer: Karen Toro/Bloomberg
Christian Zurita, presidential candidate for the Construye party, poses after an interview in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. The party of assassinated Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio has chosen Zurita, a friend and close associate of his, to run in the nation’s convulsed elections. Photographer: Karen Toro/Bloomberg
Members of Christian Zurita's security capsule inside his campaign headquarters in Quito, Ecuador, on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. The party of assassinated Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio has chosen Zurita, a friend and close associate of his, to run in the nation’s convulsed elections. Photographer: Karen Toro/Bloomberg
Christian Zurita, presidential candidate for the Construye party, has dinner with friends and members of his campaign in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. The party of assassinated Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio has chosen Zurita, a friend and close associate of his, to run in the nation’s convulsed elections. Photographer: Karen Toro/Bloomberg
Christian Zurita, presidential candidate for the Construye party, talk on the phone before lunch in Quito, Ecuador, on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. The party of assassinated Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio has chosen Zurita, a friend and close associate of his, to run in the nation’s convulsed elections. Photographer: Karen Toro/Bloomberg
Christian Zurita, presidential candidate for the Construye party, leaves his campaign headquarters surrounded by his security capsule in Quito, Ecuador, on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. The party of assassinated Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio has chosen Zurita, a friend and close associate of his, to run in the nation’s convulsed elections. Photographer: Karen Toro/Bloomberg
Members of security forces guarding Christian Zurita in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. The party of assassinated Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio has chosen Zurita, a friend and close associate of his, to run in the nation’s convulsed elections. Photographer: Karen Toro/Bloomberg
Panoramic view of Guayaquil, Ecuador on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. Guayaquil is one of the most dangerous cities in the country and where most prison massacres have taken place. Photographer: Karen Toro/Bloomberg
Exterior of the Zonal 8 Deprivation of Liberty Center or Regional Jail in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. Guayaquil is one of the most dangerous cities in the country and where most prison massacres have taken place. Photographer: Karen Toro/Bloomberg
Exterior of the Litoral Penitentiary, in the Guayaquil prison complex. The sign reads: We want Fito back. Alias Fito is the leader of one of the country's biggest criminal gangs in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. Guayaquil is one of the most dangerous cities in the country and where most prison massacres have taken place. Photographer: Karen Toro/Bloomberg
Christian Zurita, presidential candidate for the Construye party, speaks during an interview in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. The party of assassinated Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio has chosen Zurita, a friend and close associate of his, to run in the nation’s convulsed elections. Photographer: Karen Toro/Bloomberg
Christian Zurita, presidential candidate for the Construye party, speaks during an interview in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. The party of assassinated Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio has chosen Zurita, a friend and close associate of his, to run in the nation’s convulsed elections. Photographer: Karen Toro/Bloomberg
Billy Navarrete, director of the Permanent Committee for Human Rights, speaks during an interview in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. Photographer: Karen Toro/Bloomberg
Karen Toro
Artist, photographer, and educator based in Ecuador.