Rubio Welcomes New Sanctions Against Nicaraguan Government Officials

Statement

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today issued a statement after the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions against four members of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's inner circle who continue to "persecute Nicaraguan citizens exercising their fundamental freedoms, enact repressive laws, silence news media, and deny medical care to the Nicaraguan people." Sanctioned individuals include Nicaraguan National Assembly President Gustavo Eduardo Porras Cortés, Institute of Telecommunications and Postal Service (TELCOR) General Director Orlando José Castillo Castillo, Health Minister Sonia Castro Gonzalez, and Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Oscar Salvador Mojica Obregon.

"The regime in Nicaragua has broken its word of freeing all political prisoners and restoring civil rights following the negotiations with the Alianza Cívica Nicaragua," Rubio said. "The Ortegas' should make no mistake, the Trump Administration and the United States support the Nicaraguan people's fight for freedom, restoration of civil liberties and free and fair elections. I applaud these new measures which seek to hold accountable Nicaraguan government officials who persecute and violate the human rights of their citizens."

Rubio is the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women's Issues.

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