Updated sanction notification
The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER has published an amendment to the annex to the ordinance of June 24, 2020 on measures against Nicaragua (SR 946.231.158.5).
On August 13, 2021, the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER changed the list of persons, companies and organizations sanctioned in this context. The change is directly applicable in Switzerland. The EAER therefore adapted the SESAM (SECO Sanctions Management) sanctions database, which is relevant for Switzerland, on August 13, 2021 and published the adaptation on its website . The change will take effect on August 13, 2021 at 6 p.m.
Swiss authorities have added the following persons:
SSID: 400-46211 Name: Rosario María Murillo Zambrana
Sex: W DOB: 22 Jun 1951 POB: Managua, Nicaragua Good quality a.k.a.: Rosario María Murillo de Ortega Nationality: Nicaragua Identification document: Passport No. A00000106, Nicaragua
Justification: Vice President of Nicaragua, First Lady of Nicaragua and a leader of the Sandinista Youth. According to President Daniel Ortega, 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 Jun 2021, she publicly threatened the Nicaraguan opposition and discredited independent journalists. She is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations, for the repression of civil society and democratic opposition, and for undermining democracy in Nicaragua. Other information: Position(s): Vice President of the Republic of Nicaragua (since 2017), wife of President Daniel Ortega Modifications: Listed on 13 Aug 2021
SSID: 400-46223 Name: Gustavo Eduardo Porras Cortés
Sex: M DOB: 11 Oct 1954 POB: Managua, Nicaragua Nationality: Nicaragua Justification: President of the National Assembly of Nicaragua since Jan 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, and laws undermining freedom and democratic process in Nicaragua. He is therefore responsible for the repression of civil society and democratic opposition, as well as for seriously undermining democracy and the rule of law in Nicaragua. Other information: Position(s): President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Nicaragua (since Jan 2017) Modifications: Listed on 13 Aug 2021
SSID: 400-46231 Name: Juan Antonio Valle Valle
Sex: M DOB: 4 May 1963 POB: Matagalpa, Nicaragua Nationality: Nicaragua Justification: As leader in the rank of senior commissioner (second highest rank) of the Nicaraguan National Police (NNP) and in a leading position in the police in Managua, Juan Antonio Valle Valle is responsible for repeated acts of police brutality and the excessive use of force which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians, for arbitrary arrests and detentions, for violations of freedom of expression and for preventing demonstrations against the government. He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations and for the repression of civil society and democratic opposition in Nicaragua. Other information: a) Position(s): Leader in Nicaraguan National Police b) Rank: General/Senior Commissioner Modifications: Listed on 13 Aug 2021
SSID: 400-46241 Name: Ana Julia Guido Ochoa
Sex: W DOB: 16 Feb 1959 POB: Matagalpa, Nicaragua Good quality a.k.a.: Ana Julia Guido de Romero Nationality: Nicaragua
Justification: In her position as Attorney General, the highest civil servant in the Prosecutor’s Office, Ana Julia Guido Ochoa, who is loyal to the Ortega regime, is responsible for the politically motivated prosecution of numerous protesters and members of the political opposition. She created a specialised unit that fabricated allegations against protesters and brought charges against them. She is moreover responsible for the disqualification from public office of the main opposition candidate for the general elections. She is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations, for the repression of civil society and democratic opposition, and for undermining democracy and the rule of law in Nicaragua. Other information: Position(s): Attorney General of the Republic of Nicaragua Modifications: Listed on 13 Aug 2021
SSID: 400-46250 Name: Fidel de Jesús Domínguez Álvarez
Sex: M DOB: 21 Mar 1960 Nationality: Nicaragua
Justification: In his position as chief of the police in Leon since 23 Aug 2018, 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, the excessive use of force and violations of freedom of expression and freedom of the media. He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations and the repression of civil society and democratic opposition. Other information: Position(s): Chief of police in Leon, General Commissioner of the National Police Modifications: Listed on 13 Aug 2021
SSID: 400-46257 Name: Alba Luz Ramos Vanegas
Sex: W DOB: 3 Jun 1949 Nationality: Nicaragua Identification document: Passport No. A0009864, Nicaragua
Justification: In her position as the President of the Supreme Court of Justice of Nicaragua, she is responsible for instrumentalisation of the judiciary in favour of the interests of the Ortega regime, through the selective criminalisation of opposition activities, perpetuating the pattern of violations of rights of due process, arbitrary arrests, and the disqualification of political parties and opposition candidates. She is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations, for the repression of civil society and democratic opposition, and for seriously undermining the rule of law in Nicaragua. Other information: Position(s): President of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Republic of Nicaragua Modifications: Listed on 13 Aug 2021
SSID: 400-46265 Name: Juan Carlos Ortega Murillo DOB: 17 Oct 1982 Nationality: Nicaragua
Justification: Son of president Daniel Ortega and the First Lady and Vice President Rosario Murillo. Director of one of the main propaganda TV stations, Canal 8, and the leader of the 4th of May Sandinista Movement. In his position, he has contributed to restricting freedom of expression and freedom of the media. He has publicly threatened Nicaraguan businesspersons who oppose the Ortega regime. He is therefore responsible for undermining democracy and the repression of civil society in Nicaragua. Because he is the son of Vice President Rosario Murillo, he is associated with persons responsible for serious human rights violations and the repression of civil society in Nicaragua. Other information: Position(s): Director at Canal 8 and Difuso Comunicaciones. Leader of the 4th of May Sandinista Movement, Son of the President and Vice President of the Republic of Nicaragua Modifications: Listed on 13 Aug 2021
SSID: 400-46272 Name: Bayardo Arce Castaño
Sex: M DOB: 21 Mar 1950 Nationality: Nicaragua
Justification: In his position as Economic Advisor to President Daniel Ortega, Bayardo Arce Castano holds significant influence over the policies of the Ortega regime. He is therefore associated with persons responsible for serious violations of human rights in Nicaragua. He supported the development of legislation preventing opposition candidates from taking part in elections. He is therefore responsible for repression against civil society and democratic opposition in Nicaragua. Other information: Position(s): Economic Advisor to the President of the Republic of Nicaragua Modifications: Listed on 13 Aug 2021
to its Nicaragua sanctions program.
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