Argentine Judge Ariel Lijo Issues Arrest Warrant for Nicaraguan President Ortega and Wife Rosario Murillo for Human Rights Violations

Dec 30, 2024, 10:42 PM

An Argentine federal judge, Ariel Lijo, has issued an international arrest warrant for Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, along with at least a dozen others, for alleged systematic human rights violations. The order stems from a complaint filed by lawyer Darío Richarte and a team from the University of Buenos Aires, invoking the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows countries to prosecute crimes against humanity regardless of where they were committed. The accusations against Ortega and Murillo include murder, severe deprivation of liberty, forced disappearance of persons, torture, forced deportation or transfer of population, and persecution of groups or collectives. The complaint details a criminal repression plan that has been in place since April 2018, supported by anonymous victim testimonies.