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The police raided the home of journalist and potential presidential candidate Christiana Chamorro on money laundering charges.
Nicaragua The police raided the home of opposition leader and potential presidential candidate Christiana Chamorro, escalating a political struggle before the election later this year.
Her brother Carlos Fernando Chamorro, director of the independent news media Confidencial, confirmed the raid on Twitter on Wednesday and said his sister had been ordered to be detained.
Social media and local TV stations broadcast live images of police entering and surrounding Chamorro’s home in the capital, Managua. It can be seen that the police used force to expel reporters who came to cover the scene.
Earlier this week, Nicaraguan prosecutors asked Chamorro people to be arrested for money laundering and other crimes, including fewer references to false statements.
The 67-year-old journalist does not belong to any political party and was considered a serious challenger to President Daniel Ortega in the November presidential election, although he has not yet confirmed that he will seek a fourth term.
A statement from the judicial authorities stated that a judge in the capital Managua issued an arrest warrant at the request of the Minister of Justice.
Due to the criminal investigation of Chamorro, the Attorney General also formally requested that Chamorro be disqualified from holding public office on Tuesday.
Chamorro denied these allegations, calling them a “farce” aimed at preventing her from running for president. Reuters could not immediately reach Chamorro and her representatives for comment.
“Most of the Oppose Al Jazeera’s Lucia Newman reported from Santiago, Chile after the police raid that we believe this is a way to try to eliminate all the most famous opposition leaders before this year’s presidential election.
Newman said: “She will be the third… potential presidential candidate to be imprisoned,” adding that “two opposition parties have now been declared illegal.”
Efforts to disqualify Chamorro people for election have been criticized by the United States, the Organization of American States (OAS) and other organizations.
The Organization of American States stated in a statement on Wednesday that “systematic and repeated violations of the rule of law and fundamental freedoms” are “an attack on democracy.”
Statement by the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States on requesting the disqualification of Nicaragua Cristiana Chamorrohttps://t.co/l8Aj7MNt1v pic.twitter.com/dUBTdFjj1g
— Organization of American States (@OAS_official) June 2, 2021
US Secretary of State Anthony Brinken also stated on Twitter that preventing the Chamorro from participating in the election “reflects Ortega’s fear of free and fair elections.”
The head of human rights at the UN accused the Attorney General’s office of fabricating false accusations against Ortega’s critics.
The Chamorro has recently become a potential candidate for unity, and he may be able to unite the divided opposition in the November 7 vote to defeat Ortega. On Tuesday, she announced that she would seek nomination from the opposition.
She is the daughter of Violeta Chamorro, who became President of Nicaragua in the 1990 elections and ousted him after Ortega took power for the first time.
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