US Imposes Nicaragua-Related Sanctions on 9 Individuals, Prosecutor's Office

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States has imposed new Nicaragua-related sanctions on nine individuals and the country's federal public prosecutor's office as part of its response to the country's recent election, the US Treasury Department said on Monday.

The sanctions, in particular, target the Public Ministry of Nicaragua which ensures effective criminal prosecution, and nine government officials and diplomats, including the energy minister and vice-minister of finance.

"Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated the Public Ministry of Nicaragua (Ministerio Publico de Nicaragua) as well as nine officials of the Government of Nicaragua in response to the sham national elections orchestrated by President Daniel Ortega (Ortega) and Vice President Rosario Murillo (Murillo). This action targets those who are repressing Nicaraguans for exercising their human rights and fundamental freedoms," the statement said.

This comes after earlier this month, the US denounced the November 7 general election in Nicaragua as a "sham" and President Joe Biden threatened to impose economic sanctions against the people of Nicaragua after they reelected socialist Daniel Ortega to a fourth consecutive five-year term. Critics of Ortega, including the US, accuse him of having cracked down on opponents ahead of the elections.

Last week, President Joe Biden signed legislation into law that authorizes sanctions against Nicaraguan President Ortega, the country's central bank and other senior officials.

The UK Foreign Office also said on Monday it has imposed sanctions against eight senior Nicaraguan individuals, including the country's vice-president, following the November 7 election.