On January 10, 2022, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated six Nicaraguan government officials from the Nicaraguan military, the Nicaraguan Institute of Telecommunications and Mail (TELCOR) and the state-owned Nicaraguan Mining Company (ENIMINAS) to coincide with inaugurations scheduled for President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo following the fraudulent elections orchestrated by their regime in November 2021 and the imprisonment of hundreds of political and civil society actors. The designations were made pursuant to EO 13851 that targets persons contributing to the situation in Nicaragua and imposed by OFAC in conjunction with the EU, which issued parallel sanctions upon 7 Nicaraguan officials and 3 government entities in response to the Ortega-Murillo regime’s ongoing abuses. The US State Department also took steps to impose visa restrictions against 116 Nicaraguan agents of repression.
Brian E. Nelson, the US Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, indicated that these coordinated sanctions were intended to send the message that the US and its partners stand alongside the Nicaraguan people and their calls for a return to democracy and the immediate release of political prisoners.
As a result of the OFAC designations, all property and interests in property of today’s designees within the United States or within the possession or control of a US person are blocked, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions involving the designated persons. In addition, entities owned fifty percent or more by one or more designated persons are also blocked.
Department of Treasury Press Release | Department of State Press Release