The National Assembly passed executive-initiated amendments to the criminal code and legislation on cybercrime and financial analysis. The amendments further criminalize dissidence, enabling the prosecution of vaguely-described illicit acts such as crimes against national security and public administration, including when committed through social media and by nationals and foreigners outside Nicaraguan territory. The amendments broaden who can be prosecuted, including people who “facilitate” crimes. Harsher prison sentences and the confiscation of assets were also introduced. Experts note the express criminalization of conduct on social media could induce a chilling effect, which will be compounded by the threat of ‘transnational’ prosecutions. Notably, an amendment to the Financial Analysis Unit bill will scrutinize citizens living abroad who send remittances to Nicaraguan beneficiaries and the beneficiaries themselves, a circumstance that particularly imperils family members of exiled critics of the regime.

Sources:  Asamblea Nacional de Nicaragua (1), Asamblea Nacional de Nicaragua (2), El Pais (1), El País (2), Infobae

Through ministerial decrees and provisions, the government has ordered the closure of about 1,500 non-governmental organizations (NGO). Most of the disbanded organizations are religious, but also include educational, medical, social and Indigenous institutions. The government justified the dissolution by arguing the organizations had incurred in alleged omissions in financial disclosure obligations. The property and other assets of the NGOs are to be confiscated by the government. The government also announced that remaining civil society organizations that wish to continue operating will have to do so under a new operational scheme involving “alliances” with state entities. This scheme entails that all programs and projects will have to be approved by the state entities involved, taking away any ability for civil society to operate independently. Since 2018, over 5,200 organizations or roughly 75 per cent of NGOs have been closed. The latest dissolution of NGOs has affected more organizations than any of the previous measures taken against civil society.

Sources: BBC, The New York Times, El Pais, Human Rights Watch

Through a ministerial decree, the Ortega Government has issued new restrictions to musical and artistic performances, which effectively bans political expression in concerts. The decree, Ministerial Agreement 05-2004, impedes both national and foreign performers from expressing or promoting ideas related to politics. It establishes the obligation of performers and producers to enlist in a registry and grants the Ministry of the Interior the ability to authorize or deny any production. Both the artistic community and Nicaraguan human rights defenders have decried the measure, and fear authorizations may be denied arbitrarily. 

Sources: Q’Hubo, El Pais 

Bishop Rolando Alvarez, a political prisoner, was expelled from Nicaragua along with Bishop Isidoro Mora and 17 other priests and seminarians who had been imprisoned in December. Bishop Alvarez was convicted a year ago for treason, dissemination of fake news and undermining national integrity, and sentenced to 26 years imprisonment. He had refused to leave Nicaragua a year ago along with over two hundred political prisoners who were released, expelled to the United States and stripped of their nationality by the judiciary. Last year, Congress also passed a reform by which those declared traitors would be stripped of their nationalities.  

After the release, the Ortega government issued a statement revealing the coordination and agreement with the Holy See, and Vatican News subsequently confirmed the arrival of the members of the Catholic Church to Vatican City.  

Sources: Vatican News,  Associated Press, El Pais , International IDEA