Faced with the persistence of serious abuses and human rights violations in Nicaragua, the European Parliament called on the Council of the European Union on Thursday 8 October to “rapidly add persons and entities to the EU sanctions list, including the President [Daniel Ortega] and Vice-President [Rosario Murillo]”, in a resolution adopted by a large majority (609 votes in favour, 21 against, 64 abstentions).
Since May, the European Union has adopted sanctions against six Nicaraguan persons responsible for serious human rights violations and repression of civil society and the political opposition (see EUROPE 12480/12).
MEPs also call for a Parliament delegation to be sent to Nicaragua as soon as possible to resume political dialogue with the country.
Parliament also calls on the Nicaraguan National Assembly to abandon the adoption of an unconstitutional law on the supervision of foreign agents, a special law on cybercrime and a law on hate crimes. If passed, these laws would provide the Ortega regime with a new repressive tool to silence not only its critics, but also any individual or organisation receiving funds from abroad, Parliament points out. (MB)