The delegation of the European Union (EU) in Nicaragua issued a brief message yesterday, Wednesday, December 21, in which they expressed their “solidarity” and regretted the situation of families who will not be able to be together on these dates because they are in prison, by exile or migration.
“We stand in solidarity with all the people in the world who cannot celebrate as a family this Christmas. May the new year bring peace, prosperity and happiness to all of us”, expresses the new year message issued by the international organization that recently extended sanctions against 21 officials of the Ortega-Murillo regime.
Related news: European Union expels Nicaraguan ambassador in response to Ortega
In October, the Council of the European Union granted a one-year extension for the sanctions against 21 officials and institutions of the Nicaraguan regime. This decision was part of the response to Daniel Ortega for the expulsion of the EU ambassador in Managua, Bettina Muscheidt. , who was declared as “persona non grata”.
On September 28, the dictatorship ordered the expulsion of the European representative in the Central American country after the EU delegation to the United Nations (UN) urged Ortega to “return Nicaragua’s sovereignty to the Nicaraguan people.” and to “restore democracy” in the country.
Ambassador Bettina Muscheidt arrived in Nicaragua in September 2021, just a year ago, replacing Pelayo Castro. In his welcome speech, he said that within his functions is the “main responsibility of continuing to promote and defend the values and principles that guide the actions of the European Union and its Member States, inside and outside their borders: respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law and respect for human rights”.
It was during his predecessor’s mission that the organization and some European countries sanctioned Ortega’s family and friends, including his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, and several of his children, under accusations of violating human rights and democracy. .
The EU has ruled on various occasions on the socio-political crisis plaguing Nicaragua. It has sanctioned high-ranking officials and three Nicaraguan institutions, including the Supreme Electoral Council (CSE), organizer of municipal elections. Likewise, it has demanded an end to the repression of citizens, the release of political prisoners and a return to democracy.
