The punitive measures are also aimed at the federal prosecution of Nicaragua, accused of having “unjustly arrested candidates for the presidency, which […] undermined democracy”.
Le Monde with AFP
While all his serious rivals had been detained, Daniel Ortega had been re-elected on November 7, for a fourth term at the head of Nicaragua. The United States announced, Monday, financial penalties against the federal prosecution and nine senior officials of the country “in response to the simulacre of elections orchestrated by the President, Daniel Ortega, and the Vice-Chair, Rosario Murillo”.
American punitive measures are for the prosecution, accused by the US Treasury in a statement to have “unfairly arrested candidates for the presidency and open investigations against them, which prevented them from introducing themselves, and therefore Saved democracy “. The latter are intended, moreover, members of the government, including the Deputy Minister of Finance, Jose Adrian Chavarria Montenegro, and the Minister of Energy and Mines, Salvador Mansell Castrillo.
Elections: a “comedy” according to biden
The mayors of the cities of Matagalpa, Jinotega and Esseli, accused by the Treasury of being involved in the violent repression of peaceful demonstrations in 2018, are also concerned by these sanctions. Potential assets in the United States of these people are frozen, and access to the US financial system is barred at them.
The American President, Joe Biden, had described as “comedy” the elections that have not surprisingly allowed Daniel Ortega’s re-election for a fourth term, with his wife Rosario Murillo to the vice-president. The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had warned that Washington was considering new sanctions.
“The Ortega regime uses laws and institutions to stop members of the political opposition and deprive Nicaraguays of their right to vote,” said US Treasury penalties, Andrea Gacki, in a statement. According to her, “the United States addresses an unambiguous message to President Ortega, Vice President Murillo and their first [near] circle, demonstrating their support to the people of Nicaragua in their calls for reforms and return to democracy “.