United States sanctioned 19 officials of Daniel Ortega’s regime for undermining democracy

The United States announced on Friday visa restrictions affecting 19 electoral and political officials who allegedly aided the Nicaraguan dictator, Daniel Ortega, and his wife, Rosario Murillo, for carrying out an “attack” on the country’s democracy.

Punishments were imposed by the detention in Nicaragua of at least 32 leaders and leaders of the opposition, including seven presidential candidates, since May 28, as part of the electoral process, State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

“We are imposing visa restrictions on 19 Nicaraguan election officials and political parties for inciting the Ortega-Murillo government to attack democracy.said Price’s message posted on his Twitter account.

“The international community intends to promote the responsibility of those who undermine democracy”The publication adds, citing the statement released by the ministry.

The objective of the measure is also respond to arrests of students, business leaders, journalists and human rights defenders in Nicaragua in recent months.

“With today’s action, we clearly affirm our commitment to promote the responsibility of all accomplices in the assault on democracy of the Government of Ortega-Murillo. They are not welcome in the United States “Price noted.

According to the document, all these “anti-democratic and authoritarian” actions in Nicaragua are the upcoming electoral process and its eventual results have “lost all credibility”. This warning had already been issued by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The sanctions announced on Friday follow Blinken’s announcements on July 12 and August 5, when imposed visa restrictions on 150 other judges, prosecutors and relatives of these Nicaraguan officials as part of a restriction policy this applies to Nicaraguans and members of their immediate family who are suspected of being responsible or complicit in “undermining democracy”, including those responsible for human rights violations.

Ortega, a former Sandinista guerrilla who returned to power in 2007, He is seeking re-election for another five years in the November elections.

The dictator, who is about to turn 76 and who coordinated a board of directors from 1979 to 1984 and first presided over the country between 1985 and 1990, accused opposition leaders of trying to overthrow him with US backing and called them “criminals”.

(With information from EFE and Europa Press)

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