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Argentine Judge Orders Arrest of Ortega, Murillo, and 16 Others for Human Rights Violations Under Universal Jurisdiction

Dec 30, 2024, 08:50 PM

An Argentine judge has ordered the international arrest of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, his wife and Vice President Rosario Murillo, and at least 16 others for alleged human rights violations. The order, issued by Federal Judge Ariel Lijo, is based on the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows for the prosecution of crimes against humanity regardless of where they were committed. The accusations against Ortega and Murillo include murder, forced disappearances, torture, and the forced transfer of population. The case was initiated by a group of lawyers from the University of Buenos Aires, led by Darío Richarte, who filed the complaint in August 2022. The legal action has been expanded seven times to include further allegations of human rights abuses committed by the Ortega regime since April 2018.