Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Calls for More Nicaragua Sanctions
The State Department should issue more sanctions against Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega regime, which is arresting political opposition leaders and continues to commit human rights violations, a group of Republican and Democratic lawmakers said. In a June 15 letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the lawmakers said the U.S. can expand on the designations issued June 9 against members of Ortega’s inner circle (see 2106090055).
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The U.S. should “apply further targeted measures against individuals in the military, police, and justice ministry who have ordered and carried out these human rights violations,” said the lawmakers, including the House Foreign Affairs Committee's top Democrat, Gregory Meeks of New York, and the top Republican, Michael McCaul of Texas. They also said “every effort should be made to coordinate sanctions” with U.S. allies, including Canada, the European Union and partners in Latin America and the Caribbean.
A State Department spokesperson said the U.S. is "working closely" with the EU, Canada and the United Kingdom on "additional targeted measures" against Nicaragua. "The United States will continue to use all diplomatic and economic tools at our disposal to support Nicaraguans’ calls for greater freedom and accountability, and free and fair elections," the spokesperson said June 17.
A State Department spokesperson didn’t comment.