The United States Department of State expanded its list of sanctioned Nicaraguan officials. This Friday, June 15, he added 23 Sandinista operators, including judges and prosecutors, in charge of accusing and convicting political prisoners of the Daniel Ortega dictatorship.
The Joe Biden administration decided to apply the Enhanced Engagement Act between the United States and the Northern Triangle, better known as the “Engel List”, to the operators of the Ortega-Murillo regime for “undermining democratic processes or institutions by exercising discretion proceedings to present false charges in order to imprison opponents of the regime in the run-up to the national elections”.
Those sanctioned by the US Government are 10 prosecutors from the Public Ministry and 13 judges from the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ).
Related news: The United States Sanctions 23 Sandinista Judges and Prosecutors
The list of those sanctioned is headed by Yubelca del Carmen Pérez Alvarado, Carlos Rafael Espinoza Castilla, Jorge Luis Arias Jarquín, Martha Ileana Morales Mendoza, Marling de Jesús Castro Rodríguez and Andrea del Carmen Salas, prosecutors of the Public Ministry in Managua; all accused of presenting false charges against opposition leaders prior to the 2021 presidential elections.
Erick Ramon Laguna Averruz, Judge of the District Court of the department of Estelí, is among those sanctioned for accusing and convicting the hostages of the Ortega dictatorship, for allegedly “undermining national integrity.” The court was in charge of sentencing Nicaraguans Alexis Peralta and Santos Camilo Bellorín to prison.
Likewise Help of Carmen Sequeira SuazoEstelí prosecutor, is sanctioned by the United States for filing false charges against activist Alexis Peralta.
Pearl of the Angels Bacaprosecutor of the department of Chinandega, is also accused of presenting false charges against opposition leaders prior to the 2021 presidential elections.
They add to the list Maria Francis Perez Mojicaprosecutor of Nueva Segovia, for fabricating crimes against opponent Donald Alvarenga and the judge Rosa Velia Baca Cardoza for sentencing the activist to 12 years in prison for allegedly violating Law 1055, the Sovereignty Law.
The prosecutor Luis Alberto Mena Gamezfrom the Public Ministry of Nueva Segovia, is accused of mounting false charges against the political prisoner Douglas Cerros and the judge Veronica Fiallos for sentencing Cerros for alleged “treason against the country.” In addition, the United States sanctioned them for “prosecuting spurious charges, convictions and harsh sentences against private citizens who criticize the government.”
The State Department designated sanctions against the judicial Irma Oralya Laguna Cruz for sentencing opponent Evelyn Pinto to prison. To the judge Luden Martin Quiroz Garcia for prosecuting opposition leader Ana Margarita Vijil; the journalist Miguel Mendoza; former Foreign Minister Mauricio Díaz, former presidential candidate Cristiana Chamorro; the opposition Pedro Joaquín Chamorro; the employees of the Violeta Barrios de Chamorro Foundation (FVBCH) Pedro Vásquez, Walter Gómez and Marcos Fletes, and former deputy María Fernanda Flores.
Melvin Leopoldo Vargas Garcia is part of the list for convicting opposition activist Samantha Jirón. Judge Angel Jancarlos Fernandez Gonzalez for sentencing business leaders Luis Rivas, Michael Healy and Álvaro Vargas to jail; the opponent Dora María Téllez; Jose Antonio Peraza and Victor Hugo Tinoco.
The judge Nancy Aguirre Gudiel for prosecuting a pro-democracy leader on vague and false charges of “undermining national integrity” in the mock trial of opposition activist Irving Larios. Judge William Irving Howard Lopez for convicting opposition activist Nidia Barbosa.
The judge joins the list Felix Ernesto Salmeron Moreno for condemning former presidential candidates Juan Sebastián Chamorro, Félix Maradiaga, Arturo Cruz and Medardo Mairena; civic leaders Pedro Mena, José Pallais, Violeta Granera, Tamara Dávila, José Quintanilla Hernández, Roger Reyes; and business leader José Adán Aguerri.
Judge Rolando Salvador Sanarrussia Munguia for sentencing opposition activist Yoel Sandino to prison. The judge Nadia Camila Tardencilla Rodriguez for directing the sham trials of student leaders Lesther Alemán and Max Jerez; former presidential candidate Miguel Mora; political analyst Edgar Parrales; the director of the newspaper La Prensa Juan Lorenzo Holmann and the electoral expert Harry Chávez.
The Judge Ulisa Yahoska Tapia Silva was included for convicting opposition activists Yaser Vado and Yader Parajón in sham trials; former Foreign Minister Francisco Aguirre Sacasa; opposition leader Suyen Barahona; peasant leader Freddy Navas; human rights lawyer María Oviedo; former presidential candidate Noel Vidaurre and political commentator Jaime Arellano.
The Joe Biden administration stressed that it is studying actions “to deter and interrupt corrupt and anti-democratic activities” carried out by sanctioned Ortega judges and prosecutors.
“The State Department also continues to actively review credible information … to ensure that corrupt or undemocratic officials are denied a safe haven in the United States,” he noted.
