An Argentine judge has issued an arrest warrant for Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, citing allegations of a “systematic violation of human rights,” according to lawyer Dario Richarte, who filed the case.
The warrant also extends to Ortega’s wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, and several officials linked to the regime.
Federal Judge Ariel Lijo invoked the principle of universal jurisdiction, which permits the prosecution of crimes against humanity regardless of where they were committed. The charges against Ortega and Murillo include murder, forced disappearances, torture, and the “deportation or forced transfer of population.”
The complaint, filed in 2022 by a group of prosecutors from the University of Buenos Aires, accuses Ortega’s government of widespread abuses. Ortega, 79, a former guerrilla leader, has tightened his grip on power since returning to office in 2007, consolidating control over Nicaragua’s judiciary, legislature, and other state institutions.
His administration has faced global condemnation for suppressing dissent. More than 5,000 NGOs have been shut down since 2018, following a violent crackdown on protests against his government. The United Nations has reported over 300 deaths during those protests, further fueling allegations of state-sponsored violence.
The media landscape in Nicaragua has also suffered under Ortega’s rule. Most independent and opposition outlets now operate from abroad, driven out by government crackdowns.
Since February 2023, Ortega’s regime has escalated its repressive measures, revoking the citizenship of nearly 450 individuals, including politicians, journalists, intellectuals, human rights advocates, and religious leaders, accusing them of “treason.”
Amnesty International has been vocal in its criticism of Ortega’s government. Ana Piquer, the organisation’s Americas director, recently highlighted the pervasive climate of fear in Nicaragua. “From indigenous leaders, journalists, human rights defenders, and anyone seen as a risk to government policies, the authorities continue to consolidate the climate of fear,” Piquer warned.
This latest move by the Argentine judiciary adds to the international pressure on Ortega and his regime. However, given Ortega’s entrenched power and the absence of an extradition treaty between Argentina and Nicaragua, the enforcement of these warrants remains uncertain.
