U.S. sanctions Nicaraguan officials over opposition leaders detention

The U.S. on Wednesday announced sanctions targeting Nicaraguan officials in response to the arrest of opposition figures and the government’s failure to implement “now-overdue’’ electoral reforms.

The U.S. called for the release of opposition leaders Cristiana Chamorro, Arturo Cruz and Felix Maradiaga, all pre-candidates for the presidential election set for November, among others.

The U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken in a statement in Washington condemned the arrests of civil society and opposition in the past week “in the most unequivocal terms’’.

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“In response to this wave of oppression and due to Nicaragua’s failure to implement now overdue electoral reforms, the U.S. is imposing sanctions on several members of the Ortega regime for their complicity in the Ortega regime’s activities,’’ Blinken said.

Among the individuals sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury is President Daniel Ortega’s daughter and adviser, Camila Antonia Ortega Murillo.

The list also included; Central Bank of Nicaragua President Leonardo Ovidio Reyes Ramirez, Edwin Ramon Castro Rivera, a deputy of the Nicaraguan National Assembly, and Julio Modesto Rodriguez Balladares, a Brig.-Gen. of the Nicaraguan Army.

“President Ortega’s actions are harming Nicaraguans and driving the country deeper into tyranny.

“It’s clear the Ortega regime intends to continue its suppression of the Nicaraguan people. The U.S. will continue to expose those officials who continued to ignore the will of its citizens,’’ said Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control Andrea Gacki.

The sanctions block any assets the targeted individuals may have in the U.S. and prohibit citizens from doing business with them.

U.S. sanctions Nicaraguan officials over opposition leaders detention