Nicaragua investigates former foreign minister and wives of opponents

Citizen verification in Nicaragua ends 3:24

(CNN Spanish) -

The Nicaraguan National Police reported this Tuesday, through a press release, that it began an investigation process against the former Foreign Minister of the Republic, Francisco Xavier Aguirre Sacasa.

As detailed, the investigation is in accordance with Article 1 of Law No. 1055 "Law for the Defense of the Rights of the People to Independence, Sovereignty and Self-determination for Peace."

The police indicated that they are investigating Aguirre Sacasa for carrying out alleged "acts that undermine independence, sovereignty, and self-determination."

They also accuse him of "inciting foreign interference in internal affairs, requesting military interventions, organizing with financing from foreign powers to carry out acts of terrorism and destabilization, proposing and managing economic, commercial and financial blockades against the country and its institutions ".

In addition, they are investigating him for "demanding, exalting and applauding the imposition of sanctions against the State of Nicaragua and its citizens, and harming the supreme interests of the nation."

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CNN tried to get Aguirre Sacasa's reaction to the police announcement, but he did not respond to our calls.

The ex-chancellor's story

The former foreign minister, who was also a deputy, was frequently consulted by national and international media on aspects of US policy with respect to Nicaragua.

Since the beginning of the anti-government protests in 2018 - which, according to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), left 328 dead, thousands of injured and more than 100,000 exiles - Aguirre Sacasa maintained a critical position against the government of Daniel Ortega.

At that time, the government recognized 200 deaths, including police officers, and considered the protests an attempted coup.

A year ago a judicial authority issued house arrest against the former official, in a case that linked him to the purchase of two bronze bells.

According to the Prosecutor's Office, they had been stolen from a Catholic church in the city of Granada.

Aguirre acknowledged the purchase of the bells, but said he did not know that they were stolen and denied that he had sent someone to commit the theft.

They investigate the wives of candidates

Also this Tuesday, the Nicaraguan National Police reported that it initiated an investigation into the communicator Bertha Adelma Valle Otero and the businesswoman Victoria Eugenia Cárdenas, wives of the presidential candidates, Félix Maradiaga and Juan Sebastián Chamorro.

As detailed, the investigation is in accordance with Article 1 of Law No. 1055 "Law for the Defense of the Rights of the People to Independence, Sovereignty and Self-determination for Peace."

President of the IACHR: We see a setback in Nicaragua 1:12

Maradiaga and Chamorro, presidential candidates for the Blue and White National Unity and the Citizen Alliance, respectively, were arrested on June 8, also following an investigation for alleged acts against national sovereignty.

In its statement, the police conclude that it "carries out all the pertinent investigative procedures and will forward the proceedings to the competent authorities for prosecution and determination of criminal responsibilities."

• The Government of Nicaragua says it will send a ship with food to Cuba in the "next few days."

CNN tried to communicate with Valle Otero and Cárdenas, to find out their reaction to the police investigation.

Valle responded that they will give their version through a press conference this Wednesday from the United States.

What the OAS says

The Valle and Cárdenas ladies are on a tour of the United States where they have presented and reported the situation of their husbands to various bodies and forums.

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States, Luis Almagro, received them on July 19.

"I met with Bertha Valle and Victoria Cárdenas, we condemned the imprisonment of their husbands Félix Maradiaga and Juan Sebastián Chamorro and we demand their immediate release, as well as the other political prisoners in Nicaragua, whose human rights have been violated," Almagro said in networks social.

I met with @bertavalle and Victoria Cárdenas, we condemn the imprisonment of their husbands Félix @maradiaga and @Jschamorrog and demand their immediate release, as well as the other political prisoners of #Nicaragua whose human rights have been violated pic.twitter.com/a2GaKNx7B4

- Luis Almagro (@ Almagro_OEA2015) July 19, 2021

For her part, Bertha Valle said: "Thank you, Secretary Almagro, for your time and words. We hope that the Inter-American System of the OAS will continue to support the people of Nicaragua and use all available mechanisms to stop the persecution of the Ortega Murillo regime."

The Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights (CENIDH) denounced through its social networks the initiation of a State investigation against Bertha Valle and Victoria Cárdenas.

According to the organization, it is "for internationally denouncing the kidnapping of their husbands Félix Maradiaga and Juan Sebastián Chamorro and the serious human rights crisis that Nicaragua has been experiencing since 2018."

Arrests and elections

Less than 4 months before the elections scheduled for November, the national police have reported the arrest of 28 opposition citizens, including 7 presidential candidates.

About 25 of these people are investigated under Law 1055, for alleged actions against national sovereignty.

Three others are linked to the alleged money laundering of the Violeta Barrios Foundation.

Lawyer rules out Nicaragua's free election 5:52

President Ortega - without showing any evidence - has called criminal detainees and members of a network that channeled funds to organize another coup.

The relatives and the private lawyers of those investigated reject the charges and denounce that, so far, they have not even been able to read the physical file of the cases.

Human rights Nicaragua