The Council of the European Union decided on Monday 10 January to impose restrictive measures on seven Nicaraguan officials and three public entities because of the continuing political crisis in Nicaragua after the illegitimate re-election of President Daniel Ortega last November (see EUROPE 12828/15).
Specifically, a daughter and another son of President Daniel Ortega and Vice-President Rosario Murillo, as well as the President and Vice-President of the Supreme Electoral Council, have been banned from entry, and their assets in the EU have been frozen. These sanctions tighten the noose around President Ortega without going so far as to target him directly, contrary to what the European Parliament has called for (see EUROPE 12855/20).
These individuals are responsible for serious human rights violations, including repression of civil society, support for fraudulent presidential and parliamentary elections, and undermining democracy and the Rule of law, the EU Council said in a statement.
A total of 21 Nicaraguan leaders are now subject to EU sanctions until 15 October 2022 (see EUROPE 12809/26).
The entities directly sanctioned are the country’s national police, the Supreme Electoral Council, and the Nicaraguan Institute of Telecommunications and Postal Services.
More info at: https://bit.ly/3GfvRps (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)