Switzerland slaps sanctions on top Nicaragua officials
Rodrigo Navarrete, the only relative in Nicaragua of political prisoner Jaime Navarrete, shows a poster with the photo of his relative during an interview in Managua, Nicaragua, 10 June 2020. Navarrete and the April Victims Association (AVA) alleged that the Nicaraguan government has used the COVID-19 crisis to wage "biological warfare" against promoters and followers of the 2018 anti-government uprising.
Keystone / Carlos Herrera
Switzerland is joining the European Union in imposing sanctions on Nicaragua in response to ongoing violations against human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
The Swiss government issued a statement on Wednesday urging authorities in Nicaragua to uphold national and international laws on human rights, especially those on freedom of expression and assembly.
“These sanctions are not directed against the people of Nicaragua,” the Federal Council noted.
The financial and travel sanctions target six individuals with close ties to Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega. Two of them are personal advisors to the president and the other four are high ranking members of the judiciary and police force implicated in serious human rights violations.
Assets affected by the freeze must be reported to the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs. The measures came into force at 6pm on June 24.
Bern called on Managua to implement genuine general reform, respect the fundamental rights of citizens, and abide by two agreements made with the opposition in 2019.
“Switzerland is prepared to support efforts to find a peaceful solution to this socio-political conflict,” the government said.
Popular Stories
More
Foreign affairs
Go to war or stay put? Ukrainian men in Switzerland face fresh dilemmas
Is reforming the Swiss pension system still possible, and if so, how?
Solutions still need to be found to meet the challenge of an ageing population and to improve the pensions of low-paid workers, the majority of whom are women.
Swiss to reduce administrative burden on farms from 2026
This content was published on
From 2026, the number of inspections of farms is to be reduced, without any loss of quality, said economics minister Guy Parmelin.
Swiss insurance boss proposes Singapore-style healthcare system
This content was published on
CEO of Swiss health insurer Sanitas has said that healthcare costs could be reduced if Switzerland were to follow the Singapore model.
Swiss minister talks crime and security in visit to the Netherlands
This content was published on
Swiss justice minister Beat Jans spent two days in the Netherlands discussing security, police cooperation and justice with international bodies.
Study finds more heavy metal detected in Swiss grassland
This content was published on
Copper and zinc can be expected to accumulate in the soil, particularly if farmyard manure is used for several years and is greater than the amount of nutrients absorbed by the grass. This was announced by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) on Friday. The findings are based on the results of the seventh National Soil Monitoring of Switzerland (Nabo).
Lilo Baur wins Swiss Grand Prix for performing arts
This content was published on
The Swiss actress and theatre director Lilo Baur has received this year's Swiss Grand Prix for Performing Arts, also known as the Hans Reinhart Ring.
Court rules al-Qaeda supporter can stay in Switzerland
This content was published on
A Kurdish supporter of the Islamist terrorist network al-Qaeda can stay in Switzerland, the Federal Administrative Court has ruled. It has withdrawn the annulment of the man’s provisional admission.
This content was published on
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) has closed criminal proceedings relating to the Swiss owners affected by the Volkswagen “Dieselgate” emissions scandal.
This content was published on
The employment outlook in Switzerland will remain stable towards the end of 2024, according to the KOF Swiss Economic Institute at ETH Zurich.
Swiss woman accuses Donald Trump of sexual assault
This content was published on
A former Miss Switzerland candidate has accused Donald Trump of sexually assaulting her in New York in 1993. The US Republican candidate’s campaign team has denied the accusations.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.