LegalizeCouncil Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2125 of 9 October 2023 implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1716 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Nicaragua
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| Image omitted; see official source | Official Journal of the European Union | EN Series L |
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| 2023/2125 | 10.10.2023 |
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) 2019/1716 of 14 October 2019 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Nicaragua 1, and in particular Article 13(1) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Whereas:
- (1) On 14 October 2019, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2019/1716.
- (2) The Council has reviewed the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures set out in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2019/1716. On the basis of that review, the statement of reasons for six natural persons and one entity should be updated.
- (3) Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2019/1716 should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2019/1716 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.
Article 2
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Luxembourg, 9 October 2023.
For the Council
The President
Y. DÍAZ PÉREZ
ANNEX
Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2019/1716 is amended as follows:
- (1) Under the heading ‘A. Natural persons referred to in in Article 2’, entries 7, 8, 11, 17, 18, and 19 are replaced by the following:
| Name | Identifying information | Reasons | Date of listing | |
| ‘7. | Rosario María MURILLO ZAMBRANA Alias: Rosario María MURILLO DE ORTEGA | Position(s): Vice President of the Republic of Nicaragua (since 2017). Wife of President Daniel Ortega Date of birth: 22 June 1951 Place of birth: Managua, Nicaragua Gender: female Nationality: Nicaraguan Passport number: A00000106 (Nicaragua) | Vice President of Nicaragua, First Lady of Nicaragua and a leader of the Sandinista Youth. According to President Daniel Ortega, who presents her as the de facto “co-President” of the country, Rosario María Murillo Zambrana shares half of power with him. She played an instrumental role in encouraging and justifying the repression of opposition demonstrations by the Nicaraguan National Police in 2018. In June 2021, she publicly threatened the Nicaraguan opposition and discredited independent journalists. Those threats have been repeated since then. In February 2023, Daniel Ortega revealed that Rosario María Murillo Zambrana is the instigator of new repressions, namely related to the expulsion and deprivation of citizenship of 222 political prisoners. She is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations, for the repression of civil society and democratic opposition, and for undermining democracy in Nicaragua. | 2.8.2021 |
| 8. | Gustavo Eduardo PORRAS CORTÉS | Position(s): President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Nicaragua (since January 2017) Date of birth: 11 October 1954 Place of birth: Managua, Nicaragua Gender: male Nationality: Nicaraguan | President of the National Assembly of Nicaragua since January 2017 and member of the national direction of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) since 1996. In his position as the President of the National Assembly of Nicaragua, he is responsible for promoting the adoption of several repressive legal acts, among them an amnesty law that precludes any investigation into the perpetrators of massive human rights violations in 2018, laws undermining freedom and democratic process in Nicaragua, and laws depriving the civil rights of civilians, including the Bishop of Matagalpa, Rolando José Álvarez Lagos. He is therefore responsible for the repression of civil society, democratic opposition, representatives of the Church, as well as for seriously undermining democracy and the rule of law in Nicaragua. | 2.8.2021 |
| 11. | Fidel de Jesús DOMÍNGUEZ ÁLVAREZ | Position(s): Chief of police in Leon, General Commissioner of the National Police Date of birth: 21 March 1960 Gender: male Nationality: Nicaraguan | In his position as Chief of police in Leon since 23 August 2018 and then General Commissioner of the National Police since September 2020, Fidel de Jesús Domínguez Alvarez is responsible for numerous serious violations of human rights, in particular arbitrary arrests and detention including the kidnapping of members of a political opponent’s family, death threats, the excessive use of force and violations of freedom of expression and freedom of the media. He is considered as one of the main figures of repression against the democratic opposition in the region of Leon. He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations and the repression of civil society and democratic opposition. | 2.8.2021 |
| 17. | Brenda Isabel ROCHA CHACÓN | Position(s): President of the Supreme Electoral Council Date of birth: 10.2.1967 Place of birth: Bonanza, Nicaragua Gender: female Nationality: Nicaraguan | Brenda Isabel Rocha Chacón has been since May 2021 President of the Supreme Electoral Council (SEC) – a body responsible for the preparation, holding and certification of the general elections of 7 November 2021 and local elections of 6 November 2022, which, by their lack of transparency, true opposition and democratic debate, undermined democratic institutions and processes. The SEC deprived the opposition of the opportunity to stand for free elections and ensured the organisation of polls in non-democratic conditions. She is therefore responsible for the repression of democratic opposition and for undermining democracy and the rule of law in Nicaragua. | 10.1.2022 |
| 18. | Cairo Melvin AMADOR ARRIETA | Position(s): Vice-President of the Supreme Electoral Council Date of birth: 1952 Gender: male Nationality: Nicaraguan | Cairo Melvin Amador Arrieta has been since May 2021 the Vice-President of the Supreme Electoral Council (SEC) – a body responsible for the preparation, holding and certification of the general elections of 7 November 2021 and local elections of 6 November 2022, which, by their lack of transparency, true opposition and democratic debate, undermined democratic institutions and processes. The SEC deprived the opposition of the opportunity to stand for free elections and ensured the organisation of polls in non-democratic conditions. He is therefore responsible for the repression of democratic opposition and for undermining democracy and the rule of law in Nicaragua. | 10.1.2022 |
| 19. | Lumberto Ignacio CAMPBELL HOOKER | Position(s): Member of the Supreme Electoral Council, acting President of the Supreme Electoral Council in 2018 Date of birth: 3.12.1949 Place of birth: Raas, Nicaragua Gender: male Nationality: Nicaraguan Passport number: A00001109 (Nicaragua) ID number: 6010302490003J | Lumberto Ignacio Campbell Hooker has been since 2014 a member of the Supreme Electoral Council (SEC) – a body responsible for the preparation, holding and certification of the general elections of 7 November 2021 and local elections of 6 November 2022, which, by their lack of transparency, true opposition and democratic debate, undermined democratic institutions and processes. The SEC deprived the opposition of the opportunity to stand for free elections and ensured the organisation of polls in non-democratic conditions. His mandate as member of the SEC was renewed by the General Assembly in May 2021. He spoke to the media during the general elections of 7 November 2021 and local elections of 6 November 2022, justifying and praising their organisation. He is therefore responsible for the repression of democratic opposition and for undermining democracy and the rule of law in Nicaragua. | 10.1.2022’ |
- (2) Under the heading ‘B. Legal persons, entities and bodies referred to in Article 2’, entry 3 is replaced by the following:
| Name | Identifying information | Reasons | Date of listing | |
| ‘3. | Nicaraguan Institute of Telecommunications and Postal Services | Address: Avenida Bolívar, Esquina diagonal al edifico de la Cancillería, Aptdo 2664, Managua 10000, Nicaragua Date of registration: 12.6.1982 Website: https://www.telcor.gob.ni | The Nicaraguan Institute of Telecommunications and Postal Services (TELCOR) is the regulatory entity for telecommunications and postal services. It has been used by the Nicaraguan authorities to silence independent media, including three news organisations since 2018, during the repression of 2018 and after the general elections of 2021. During the general elections campaign, TELCOR was implementing a disinformation campaign on a large scale. As the institution in charge of the implementation of the “cybersecurity law”, TELCOR has been commanding and operating surveillance actions regarding civil society and democratic opposition. In addition, TELCOR continues its campaign of tight media control by shutting down radio stations close to the democratic opposition. TELCOR is therefore responsible for serious violations of human rights, and the repression of civil society and democratic opposition. | 10.1.2022’ |
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2023/2125/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)
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