US imposes visa restrictions, sanctions on Nicaragua over 'repression’ of citizens, 'exploitation' of migrants

By Rabia Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US imposed visa restrictions Wednesday on more than 250 members of the Nicaraguan government and sanctions on three Nicaragua-based entities over their role in the "repression" of the Nicaraguan people and "exploitation of vulnerable migrants.”

In a statement, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller accused Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, Vice President Rosario Murillo and those under their command of unjustly detaining “those who advocate for a free civil society, religious freedom and freedom of expression” and enriching “their regime through the exploitation of vulnerable migrants.”

"The United States continues to call upon the international community to ensure accountability for those who undermine democracy in Nicaragua. We will not waiver in our support for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Nicaraguan people," Miller added.

In a separate statement, the US Treasury Department said it is imposing sanctions on three Nicaragua-based entities – the Training Center of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs in Managua (RTC); Compania Minera Internacional, Sociedad Anónima (COMINTSA); and Capital Mining Investment Nicaragua, Sociedad Anónima (Capital Mining) -- for their ability to "manipulate the gold sector and profit from corrupt operations.”

The Treasury also accused the entities of exploitation of vulnerable migrants, including via the facilitation and profiting off of irregular migration to the United States and of the "repression" of the Nicaraguan people.

The Department of Homeland Security also released a statement, saying: "Actions by the Nicaraguan government are of grave concern. President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo have put in place permissive-by-design migration policies."

The Nicaraguan government has yet to respond to the allegations.