US and EU announce new sanctions against Daniel Ortega and senior Nicaraguan officials

U.S and the European Union announced on Monday, in a coordinated action, new sanctions against high-ranking Nicaraguan government officials, linked to the November elections, a few hours before the Daniel Ortega be sworn in as president for the fourth consecutive time.

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The US Treasury Department said in a statement that it sanctioned several Nicaraguan officials, including the defense minister, for accusations of acts of state violence, misinformation and attacks on independent media.

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The action also targeted personnel from the Army, the Nicaraguan Institute of Telecommunications and Postal Services, and the state-run Nicaraguan Company of Mines.

The European Union blacklisted seven more people and three entities in the Central American nation in response to the November presidential elections that Brussels and Washington called a “farce”, which raised the number of people sanctioned by the community bloc to twenty-one.

“The Ortega-Murillo regime continues to subjugate democracy by holding mock elections, silencing peaceful opposition and holding hundreds of people as political prisoners,” said US Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson.

“The United States and our partners are sending a clear message to President Ortega, Vice President (Rosario) Murillo, and their inner circle that we continue to support the Nicaraguan people in their calls for the immediate release of these political prisoners and a return to democracy.” added.

The EU detailed that new travel bans and asset freezes were imposed on Ortega’s family, including Murillo, as well as the police, the Supreme Electoral Council and the company that oversees postal and telecommunications services.

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Deshawn