On Monday, August 2, the European Union sanctioned a son of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, his wife and vice-president Rosario Murillo, as well as six other regime dignitaries for their responsibility for "
serious human rights violations
" committed in this Central American country.
Read also: Nicaragua: Ortega neutralizes his rivals in the presidential election
"
The detention of a potential seventh presidential candidate last weekend sadly illustrates the extent of the repression in Nicaragua and casts a grim picture for the next elections,
" said the EU statement.
"
The restrictive measures now apply to a total of 14 people
" banned from stay and transit and whose assets in the EU are frozen, the statement said.
"
It is forbidden for EU citizens and businesses to make funds available to them
," the text emphasizes.
"A spiral of repression"
The new sanctions were announced in early July by the head of European diplomacy, the Spaniard Josep Borrell.
"
Nicaragua has entered a spiral of repression
" against the opposition in the run-up to the presidential election, he lamented before the European Parliament meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg.
The last European sanctions against Daniel Ortega's regime dated from May 2020.
Read also: In Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega continues his repression
Daniel Ortega, a former guerrilla who had already led the country from 1979 to 1990, returned to power in 2007 with the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN, left), and stayed there after two re-elections.
His opponents believe he will run for a fourth term in the November 7 poll.
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