The United States has imposed visa restrictions on 100 Nicaraguans linked to Daniel Ortega’s regime

Joe Biden’s government imposed visa restrictions and revocations to 100 members of the National Assembly of Nicaragua and the Nicaraguan justice system, including prosecutors and judges, as well as some of their relatives, for their participation in the repression and human rights violations in the context of the protests against the Daniel Ortega regime.

The State Department announced the measure against people who “are suspected of being responsible for or complicit in undermining democracy, including those responsible or complicit in the repression of peaceful demonstrations or violations of human rights”.

As the American diplomacy explains, “they helped make possible the attacks of the Ortega-Murillo regime on democracy and human rights”, in the face of “the arrest of 26 political opponents and protagonists. democracy, including six presidential candidates, student activists, private sector leaders and other political actors ”.

Washington also highlighted the approval by Congress of repressive laws, such as electoral legislation, a law on “cybercrime”, a law on “foreign agents” and a law on “sovereignty”, legal provisions that have served the Sandinista regime in its assault on the opposition before the presidential elections in November.

In addition, the United States accused those sanctioned of “attempting to harass and silence civil society and independent media” and “undermine democratic institutions and processes in Nicaragua.”

Four months before the elections, There are six presidential candidates in prison: Cristiana Chamorro, Arturo Cruz, Félix Maradiaga, Miguel Mora, Juan Sebastián Chamorro -primo de Cristiana- and Medardo Mairena.

The department headed by Antony Blinken assured that these measures “demonstrate that the United States will promote the responsibility not only of the leaders of the regime, but also of officials who allow the regime’s attacks on democracy and human rights.” In addition, the statement announced that the Biden government “will continue to use the diplomatic and economic tools at its disposal to press for the release of political prisoners” and support Nicaraguans’ calls “for more freedom, responsibility and accountability. free and fair elections “. ”.

Daniel Ortega, 75, who had already governed from 1979 to 1990, returned to power in 2007 with the left-wing Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) and remains there after two consecutive re-elections. His vice-president is his wife, Rosario Murillo. His opponents do not rule out that he will try for a fourth consecutive term on November 7.

The opposition and the international community accused him of governing in an authoritarian manner after the brutal repression of the 2018 protests, which left 328 dead and thousands in exiles, according to human rights organizations.

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