# LI2022005EN.01001301.xml

| 10.1.2022 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | LI 5/13 |
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10.1.2022

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

LI 5/13

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COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2022/24

of 10 January 2022

amending Decision (CFSP) 2019/1720 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Nicaragua

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 29 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 Decision (CFSP) 2019/1720 (1), concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Nicaragua. |
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(1)

On 14 October 2019, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2019/1720 (1), concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Nicaragua.

| (2) | On 8 November 2021, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the ‘High Representative’) issued a declaration on behalf of the Union in which he underlined that the elections held in Nicaragua on 7 November 2021 have taken place without democratic guarantees and their results lack legitimacy. He declared that the Nicaraguan Government has deprived the people of Nicaragua of the civil and political right to vote in a credible, inclusive, fair and transparent election, as well of their freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. The High Representative indicated that the Union stands ready to consider all instruments at its disposal, including additional restrictive measures. |
| --- | --- |

(2)

On 8 November 2021, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the ‘High Representative’) issued a declaration on behalf of the Union in which he underlined that the elections held in Nicaragua on 7 November 2021 have taken place without democratic guarantees and their results lack legitimacy. He declared that the Nicaraguan Government has deprived the people of Nicaragua of the civil and political right to vote in a credible, inclusive, fair and transparent election, as well of their freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. The High Representative indicated that the Union stands ready to consider all instruments at its disposal, including additional restrictive measures.

| (3) | In view of the continuing grave situation in Nicaragua, seven individuals and three entities should be included in the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures set out in the Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2019/1720. |
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(3)

In view of the continuing grave situation in Nicaragua, seven individuals and three entities should be included in the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures set out in the Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2019/1720.

| (4) | The Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2019/1720 should therefore be amended accordingly, |
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(4)

The Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2019/1720 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2019/1720 is amended as set out in the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, 10 January 2022.

For the Council

The President

J.-Y. LE DRIAN

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(1)  Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/1720 of 14 October 2019 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Nicaragua (OJ L 262, 15.10.2019, p. 58).

1

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ANNEX

The Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2019/1720 is amended as follows:

| (1) | the heading of the table is replaced by the following:






  ‘A. | Natural persons referred to in Articles 1(1) and 2(1)’; |
| --- | --- | --- |

(1)

the heading of the table is replaced by the following:

‘A.

Natural persons referred to in Articles 1(1) and 2(1)’;

| (2) | the following natural persons are added to the table: | Name | Identifying information | Reasons | Date of listing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| ‘15. | Camila Antonia ORTEGA MURILLO | Position: Daughter of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, Advisor to the Presidency, Coordinator of the Creative Economy Commission, Director of TV station Canal 13
  Date of birth: 4.11.1987
  Place of birth: Managua, Nicaragua
  Gender: female
  Nationality: Nicaraguan
  Passport number: A00000114 (Nicaragua)
  ID number: 0010411870001B | Camila Antonia Ortega Murillo is closely involved in actions supporting the presidential couple Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, as an advisor to the Presidency, personal assistant to the Vice-President and Coordinator of the Creative Economy National Commission. She is also the Director of the platform Nicaragua Diseña and TV station Canal 13.
  She is responsible for using Nicaragua Diseña to support the fraudulent presidential and parliamentary elections, which took place on 7 November 2021, by creating fake accounts on different social media platforms.
  As the Director of Canal 13, she has contributed to disseminating the Ortega regime’s hate speech against the civic opposition, while restricting editorial plurality and persecuting independent journalists and media outlets in Nicaragua, eliminating freedom of expression and actual electoral competition. She has played a central role in the suppression of political pluralism and the definitive disarticulation of Nicaraguan democracy.
  She is therefore associated with persons responsible for undermining democracy and for serious human rights violations and she is supporting such repression and violations. | 10.1.2022 |
| 16. | Laureano Facundo ORTEGA MURILLO | Son of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, Advisor to the Presidency
  Date of birth: 20.11.1982
  Place of birth: Managua, Nicaragua
  Gender: male
  Nationality: Nicaraguan
  Passport number: A00000684 (Nicaragua)
  ID number: 0012011820046M | Laureano Facundo Ortega Murillo is closely involved in actions supporting the presidential couple Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, as an advisor to the Presidency. He has justified and supported the arbitrary and illegal imprisonment of Nicaraguan political opposition leaders and presidential pre-candidates, student and rural leaders or independent journalists, all of whom he has referred to as “terrorists”. By contributing to the elimination of actual electoral competition, he has played a central role in the suppression of political pluralism and the definitive disarticulation of Nicaraguan democracy.
  He has acted as an economic advisor to his father Daniel Ortega and the Ortega regime through the governmental agency ProNicaragua. Additionally, he is responsible for operating BanCorp – an entity whose main purpose is to assist, sponsor and financially support the repressive activities of his mother, Vice-President Rosario Murillo.
  He is therefore associated with persons responsible for the repression of civil society and for serious human rights violations, and he is supporting such repression and violations. | 10.1.2022 |
| 17. | Brenda Isabel ROCHA CHACÓN | 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 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 | 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 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 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 | 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 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 spoke to the media during the 7 November 2021 elections, 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 |
| 20. | Nahima Janett DÍAZ FLORES | Director of the Nicaraguan Institute of Telecommunications and Postal Services, daughter of the General Director of the Nicaraguan National Police Francisco Javier Díaz Madriz
  Date of birth: 28.6.1989
  Gender: female
  Nationality: Nicaraguan | Nahima Janett Díaz Flores is the Director of the Nicaraguan Institute of Telecommunications and Postal Services (TELCOR), the regulatory entity for telecommunications and postal services. TELCOR has been used by the Nicaraguan authorities to silence independent media, including three news organisations since 2018. During the 2021 general elections campaign, TELCOR was implementing disinformation campaigns 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 her position, Nahima Díaz Flores has acted as a supporter of the Ortega regime, and has commanded and operated actions of disinformation and surveillance through TELCOR of civil society and democratic opposition. She is therefore responsible for serious violations of human rights, repression of civil society and democratic opposition, and undermining democracy in Nicaragua. | 10.1.2022 |
| 21. | Luis Ángel MONTENEGRO ESPINOZA | Superintendent of the Superintendency of Banks and other Financial Institutions of Nicaragua
  Date of birth: 1.1.1949
  Place of birth: Esteli, Nicaragua
  Gender: male
  Address: Planes De Puntaldia Casa #16, Managua, Nicaragua
  Nationality: Nicaraguan
  ID number: 1610101490000S | Luis Ángel Montenegro Espinoza is the Superintendent of the Superintendency of Banks and other Financial Institutions of Nicaragua (SIBOIF). In that position he is responsible for the persecution of financial actors that resisted the Ortega regime’s policies, as well as for enforcing the regime’s control over the financial sector.
  He was appointed to that position directly by Daniel Ortega, as a reward for his loyalty. In his previous role as Controller General of the Republic he ensured that Ortega’s corrupt financial activities would not be audited and equally contributed to Ortega’s control of the regime.
  He is therefore responsible for undermining the rule of law in Nicaragua as well as for the repression of civil society and democratic opposition. | 10.1.2022’ |

(2)

the following natural persons are added to the table:

Name

Identifying information

Reasons

Date of listing

‘15.

Camila Antonia ORTEGA MURILLO

Position: Daughter of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, Advisor to the Presidency, Coordinator of the Creative Economy Commission, Director of TV station Canal 13

Date of birth: 4.11.1987

Place of birth: Managua, Nicaragua

Gender: female

Nationality: Nicaraguan

Passport number: A00000114 (Nicaragua)

ID number: 0010411870001B

Camila Antonia Ortega Murillo is closely involved in actions supporting the presidential couple Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, as an advisor to the Presidency, personal assistant to the Vice-President and Coordinator of the Creative Economy National Commission. She is also the Director of the platform Nicaragua Diseña and TV station Canal 13.

She is responsible for using Nicaragua Diseña to support the fraudulent presidential and parliamentary elections, which took place on 7 November 2021, by creating fake accounts on different social media platforms.

As the Director of Canal 13, she has contributed to disseminating the Ortega regime’s hate speech against the civic opposition, while restricting editorial plurality and persecuting independent journalists and media outlets in Nicaragua, eliminating freedom of expression and actual electoral competition. She has played a central role in the suppression of political pluralism and the definitive disarticulation of Nicaraguan democracy.

She is therefore associated with persons responsible for undermining democracy and for serious human rights violations and she is supporting such repression and violations.

10.1.2022

16.

Laureano Facundo ORTEGA MURILLO

Son of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, Advisor to the Presidency

Date of birth: 20.11.1982

Place of birth: Managua, Nicaragua

Gender: male

Nationality: Nicaraguan

Passport number: A00000684 (Nicaragua)

ID number: 0012011820046M

Laureano Facundo Ortega Murillo is closely involved in actions supporting the presidential couple Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, as an advisor to the Presidency. He has justified and supported the arbitrary and illegal imprisonment of Nicaraguan political opposition leaders and presidential pre-candidates, student and rural leaders or independent journalists, all of whom he has referred to as “terrorists”. By contributing to the elimination of actual electoral competition, he has played a central role in the suppression of political pluralism and the definitive disarticulation of Nicaraguan democracy.

He has acted as an economic advisor to his father Daniel Ortega and the Ortega regime through the governmental agency ProNicaragua. Additionally, he is responsible for operating BanCorp – an entity whose main purpose is to assist, sponsor and financially support the repressive activities of his mother, Vice-President Rosario Murillo.

He is therefore associated with persons responsible for the repression of civil society and for serious human rights violations, and he is supporting such repression and violations.

10.1.2022

17.

Brenda Isabel ROCHA CHACÓN

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 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

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 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 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

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 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 spoke to the media during the 7 November 2021 elections, 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

20.

Nahima Janett DÍAZ FLORES

Director of the Nicaraguan Institute of Telecommunications and Postal Services, daughter of the General Director of the Nicaraguan National Police Francisco Javier Díaz Madriz

Date of birth: 28.6.1989

Gender: female

Nationality: Nicaraguan

Nahima Janett Díaz Flores is the Director of the Nicaraguan Institute of Telecommunications and Postal Services (TELCOR), the regulatory entity for telecommunications and postal services. TELCOR has been used by the Nicaraguan authorities to silence independent media, including three news organisations since 2018. During the 2021 general elections campaign, TELCOR was implementing disinformation campaigns 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 her position, Nahima Díaz Flores has acted as a supporter of the Ortega regime, and has commanded and operated actions of disinformation and surveillance through TELCOR of civil society and democratic opposition. She is therefore responsible for serious violations of human rights, repression of civil society and democratic opposition, and undermining democracy in Nicaragua.

10.1.2022

21.

Luis Ángel MONTENEGRO ESPINOZA

Superintendent of the Superintendency of Banks and other Financial Institutions of Nicaragua

Date of birth: 1.1.1949

Place of birth: Esteli, Nicaragua

Gender: male

Address: Planes De Puntaldia Casa #16, Managua, Nicaragua

Nationality: Nicaraguan

ID number: 1610101490000S

Luis Ángel Montenegro Espinoza is the Superintendent of the Superintendency of Banks and other Financial Institutions of Nicaragua (SIBOIF). In that position he is responsible for the persecution of financial actors that resisted the Ortega regime’s policies, as well as for enforcing the regime’s control over the financial sector.

He was appointed to that position directly by Daniel Ortega, as a reward for his loyalty. In his previous role as Controller General of the Republic he ensured that Ortega’s corrupt financial activities would not be audited and equally contributed to Ortega’s control of the regime.

He is therefore responsible for undermining the rule of law in Nicaragua as well as for the repression of civil society and democratic opposition.

10.1.2022’

| (3) | the following heading and table are added:






  ‘B. | Legal persons, entities and bodies referred to in Article 2(1) | Name | Identifying information | Reasons | Date of listing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1. | National Police of Nicaragua
  La Policía Nacional Nicaragüense | Headquarters: Managua, Nicaragua
  Date of establishment: 22.8.1979
  Website: http://www.policia.gob.ni/ | The National Police of Nicaragua is responsible for the degrading treatment, including physical and psychological torture, of those who opposed the Ortega regime. It is responsible for the unlawful imprisonment of presidential pre-candidates, civil society leaders, student and rural leaders or independent journalists without any legal and democratic guarantees.
  The National Police was instrumental in Daniel Ortega avoiding facing any real democratic opposition during the general elections of 7 November 2021. Prior to those elections, the National Police conducted continuous surveillance and persecution of opposition leaders, unlawful residential break-ins and arbitrary arrests of opposition members, and it systematically threatened public employees.
  In 2018, the National Police was involved in killings of peaceful protesters across Nicaragua.
  The National Police of Nicaragua is therefore responsible for serious violations of human rights, repression of civil society and democratic opposition, and undermining democracy and the rule of law in Nicaragua. | 10.1.2022 |
| 2. | Supreme Electoral Council
  Consejo Supremo Electoral | Address: Pista Juan Pablo II, Managua 14005, Nicaragua
  Website: https://www.cse.gob.ni/
  Email: info@cse.gob.ni | The Supreme Electoral Council (SEC) is the body responsible for the preparation, holding and certification of the general elections of 7 November 2021, 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.
  The SEC is therefore responsible for the repression of democratic opposition and for undermining democracy and the rule of law in Nicaragua. | 10.1.2022 |
| 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.
  TELCOR is therefore responsible for serious violations of human rights, and repression of civil society and democratic opposition. | 10.1.2022’ |

(3)

the following heading and table are added:

‘B.

Legal persons, entities and bodies referred to in Article 2(1)

Name

Identifying information

Reasons

Date of listing

1.

National Police of Nicaragua

La Policía Nacional Nicaragüense

Headquarters: Managua, Nicaragua

Date of establishment: 22.8.1979

Website: http://www.policia.gob.ni/

The National Police of Nicaragua is responsible for the degrading treatment, including physical and psychological torture, of those who opposed the Ortega regime. It is responsible for the unlawful imprisonment of presidential pre-candidates, civil society leaders, student and rural leaders or independent journalists without any legal and democratic guarantees.

The National Police was instrumental in Daniel Ortega avoiding facing any real democratic opposition during the general elections of 7 November 2021. Prior to those elections, the National Police conducted continuous surveillance and persecution of opposition leaders, unlawful residential break-ins and arbitrary arrests of opposition members, and it systematically threatened public employees.

In 2018, the National Police was involved in killings of peaceful protesters across Nicaragua.

The National Police of Nicaragua is therefore responsible for serious violations of human rights, repression of civil society and democratic opposition, and undermining democracy and the rule of law in Nicaragua.

10.1.2022

2.

Supreme Electoral Council

Consejo Supremo Electoral

Address: Pista Juan Pablo II, Managua 14005, Nicaragua

Website: https://www.cse.gob.ni/

Email: info@cse.gob.ni

The Supreme Electoral Council (SEC) is the body responsible for the preparation, holding and certification of the general elections of 7 November 2021, 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.

The SEC is therefore responsible for the repression of democratic opposition and for undermining democracy and the rule of law in Nicaragua.

10.1.2022

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.

TELCOR is therefore responsible for serious violations of human rights, and repression of civil society and democratic opposition.

10.1.2022’

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