The Americas Program of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) warned about “mock trials” against former directors and employees of the Violeta Barrios de Chamorro Foundation (FVBCH). These judicial processes ensure that they set a precedent that makes it clear that the Nicaraguan regime will seek to “prohibit” financing for the work of the country’s independent press.
CPJ’s Latin America and Caribbean program coordinator, Natalie Southwick, denounced “the sham trial and conviction (March 11) last week of several Foundation workers who for years supported journalists and defended freedom of expression In Nicaragua”.
Related news: Ortega wants to “intimidate and censor” those who work to promote freedom of expression
Southwick states that this situation only “demonstrates that the Nicaraguan authorities will not stop persecuting and canceling journalists, but will instead seek to ban any source of support for the country’s independent press.”
On March 11, the Ninth Judge of the Criminal District of Managua, Luden Martín Quiroz García, declared the five former employees of the defunct Foundation guilty. The Ortega Prosecutor’s Office requested eight years in prison for Cristiana Chamorro, 13 for former FVBCH workers, Walter Gómez and Marco Fletes; seven years for Pedro Vásquez, driver of the former candidate for the Presidency, and nine for Pedro Joaquín Chamorro, brother of Cristiana.
Cristiana Chamorro, Gómez and Fletes were found guilty for the alleged crimes of abusive management, ideological falsehood, improper appropriation and retention and laundering of money, goods and assets, all these crimes would have been committed through the FVBCH.
Related news: Regime convicts Cristiana Chamorro and former FVBCH workers. Prosecutor asks between seven and thirteen years in prison
While Pedro Joaquín Chamorro was blamed for abusive management, ideological falsehood, appropriation and improper retention, crimes also committed by the organization. The Ortega justice accuses Vásquez of being a necessary collaborator for the crime of money, property and asset laundering.
The accusation by the justice of Daniel Ortega also includes the journalist Carlos Fernando Chamorro, brother of Cristiana; former FVBCH workers Guillermo Medrano, Lourdes Arróliga and Ana Elisa Martínez. The four defendants who are not detained are in exile to protect their physical integrity against threats from the regime.
