The group of countries known as G7, which brings together seven of the largest economic and political powers in the world, made a clear and direct call to the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo to end the “generalized repression” in the country, to put an end to human rights violations and immediately and unconditionally release political prisoners.
The foreign ministers of the G7, which includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, together with the high representative of the European Union (EU), issued, this Friday, April 19, a joint declaration which reaffirms the commitment of these world powers to upholding the rule of law, humanitarian principles and international law, including the Charter of the United Nations.
“We call on the government of Nicaragua to end its human rights violations, as well as the widespread repression and violations and abuses against civil society, indigenous peoples, academics, students, the independent press and political and religious actors,” says the G7 statement.
In the document, which analyzes the world situation, in the midst of the political and economic crisis, and dedicates a section to the crisis in Nicaragua, the economic powers urge the Ortega-Murillo regime to “immediately and unconditionally” release all prisoners. politicians and comply with their international obligations.
“We condemn the closure of civil society organizations and the systematic attacks on religious institutions and organizations, including the Catholic Church and its ministers, many of whom have been arrested and then sent into exile, along with hundreds of political actors and members of civil society, and stripped of their citizenship” they denounce.
Likewise, they insist on the call to Ortega to restore citizenship to all those denationalized under international agreements. Likewise, they urge the Nicaraguan regime to “hold free and fair elections, allowing members of the opposition to exercise their rights to freedom of assembly and expression.”
For political scientist Félix Maradiaga, in the context of multiple global crises, the G7 statement addresses universal challenges and also places a critical focus on situations of intense repression in specific regions, highlighting the serious situation in Nicaragua under the Sandinista dictatorship.
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Maradiaga points out that the fact that world economic and political powers show their concern about the crisis in Nicaragua is crucial, because it highlights the need for collective international action to pressure the Ortega regime to change its repressive policies.
The political scientist maintains that the statement recognizes the “severity of the repression and human rights violations in Nicaragua” under the Sandinista dictatorship. “The international community must intensify its pressure and adopt stronger measures to ensure that democracy and respect for human rights are restored,” warns the former political prisoner.
Likewise, he points out that the actions of dictator Ortega not only constitute an internal crisis, but also represent a challenge for regional and global stability.
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«It is essential to highlight and condemn not only the serious human rights violations committed by the regime, but also its links with authoritarian regimes such as those of Iran, Russia and Venezuela. “In addition, his support for the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia,” he warns, and therefore considers that a coordinated and firm response from the international community is important.
For Maradiaga, international pressure must include “stricter sanctions against the individuals and entities that support the Sandinista dictatorship, as well as determined support for democratic forces within Nicaragua.”
In this sense, he believes that the international community must use all available mechanisms to further isolate the Ortega regime until fundamental freedoms are fully respected and constitutional order is restored.
