Persecution in Nicaragua: EU studies new sanctions against Ortega regime and IACHR has repudiated the arrest of another opposition candidate

The European Union will study new sanctions against the Nicaraguan authorities to respond to the “repressive spiral” in the country, where six presidential candidates have been arrested ahead of the November elections. At the same time, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) condemned the detention of a sixth presidential candidate by the Ortega regime.

“In contacts with the authorities, it was clear that the government did not intend to abandon its intransigence. Together with the Member States, we are already evaluating various instruments at our disposal, including new sanctions, ”announced the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, during a debate in the European Parliament on the situation in this Central American country.

The head of European diplomacy regretted that the executive of Daniel Ortega initiated a wave of “systematic” arrests of candidates, activists, journalists and businessmen. “He chose the path of confrontation,” he summed up of the Nicaraguan leader, insisting that the EU must respond by proposing dialogue but without giving up exerting political pressure.

In the debate with the deputies, the great majority denounced the political persecution which is registered in the Central American country and demanded that the European bloc take action against the president and his entourage.

Leopoldo López Gil, from the PP, He criticized the country’s “powerlessness” in the face of Managua’s oppressive dynamic and stressed that Europe must take “immediate measures” and punish those responsible for the crimes, “starting with Ortega”.

Former People’s Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido stressed that Europe doesor can remain “impassive” and must apply sanctions until Nicaraguans can express themselves freely.

On the Ciudadanos side, Soraya Rodríguez demanded that the EU dismantle the “system of corruption” which supports the Nicaraguan regime, while José Ramón Bauza has appointed Borrell as responsible for European inaction. “What is the EU waiting for to react, what are the November sanctions for, if by then electoral fraud is consumed?”, he assured.

On the Vox side, Hermann Tertsch he raised his voice and accused Borrell of supporting regimes like Ortega in Nicaragua and Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, who he says have Cuba as their great ally. “Less hypocrisy and more sanctions against Nicaragua, Venezuela and Cuba”, he claimed.

Leftist formations, The High Representative’s vision was supported and the restrictions against Managua were extended. For socialist MEP Javi López, Ortega’s authoritarian push is not a symptom of strength “but of weakness”, while Miguel Urban, from Podemos, added that in Nicaragua “nothing remains of the project sandinista “.

IACHR condemns detention of sixth presidential candidate

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) sentenced this Tuesday the arrest by the Nicaraguan police of the peasant leader Medardo Mairena, the sixth presidential hope arrested in this country.

Along with Mairena, the peasant leaders were arrested on Monday evening. Pedro Mena Yes Freddy navasas well as student leaders German Lesther Yes Max JerezWashington DC-based IACHR recalled on its Twitter account.

In a message thread, the agency denounced “persistent persecution“People identified as opponents four months before the legislative elections, and drew attention to”serious deterioration“Conditions for free and fair elections.

For this reason, the IACHR urged the State of Nicaragua to “to stop detentions, release the more than 130 people deprived of their liberty, respect judicial guarantees, personal integrity, inform the place of detention and allow access to their families and to the defense”.

For her part, the President of the IACHR, Antonia Urrejola, affirmed on his Twitter account that every day, the possibility for Nicaragua to have free, fair and fair elections is considered further. “The siege and persecution of all dissenting voices does not end“, to complain.

Nicaraguan police reported on Tuesday that Mairena is under investigation for “to commit acts which undermine independence, sovereignty and self-determination ”. For the same reasons, Alemán was arrested, who berated Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega at the start of the failed national dialogue to overcome the socio-political crisis of three years ago. Navas and Alemán both benefit from the precautionary measures of the IACHR.

The imprisonment of the opposition leaders takes place before the general elections of the November 7, in which Ortega, who also reigned between 1979 and 1980, seeks his third re-election consecutive for a fourth period of five years and the second with his wife, Rosario Murillo, as vice-president.

Apart from Mairena, since May 28, Nicaraguan authorities have arrested opposition presidential candidates Cristiana Chamorro, Arturo Cruz, Félix Maradiaga, Juan Sebastián Chamorro and Miguel Mora, who are under investigation for suspected treason.

Likewise, two former deputy foreign ministers, two former dissident Sandinista guerrillas, a business leader, a banker and a former first lady, among others, were arrested.

(With information from EP and EFE)

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