Journalist Cristiana Chamorro, an opponent of Nicaragua’s dictator Daniel Ortega, was found guilty this Friday (11) in a sham trial, after accusations of financial crimes made by the country’s government.
Cristiana was convicted of money laundering, which allegedly took place through a foundation she managed and dissolved in early 2021. Prosecutors said Chamorro received money from abroad “to destabilize the government”.
She and her brother, former deputy Pedro JoaquÃn Chamorro, were also convicted of abusive management, misappropriation and withholding of funds. Aligned with the government, prosecutors suggest a 13-year sentence for her, which could continue under house arrest, which she has served since June 2, 2021. Her brother faces up to seven years in prison.
Three former employees of the Violeta Barrios de Chamorro Foundation were also convicted. Defense lawyers for the Chamorros deny the allegations.
“They want to tarnish my name, but they won’t be able to, but they’ll never be able to tarnish my father’s name, or my mother’s, because I’m innocent”, said the opponent at the end of the trial, according to the internet portal 100% News, government critic.
The daughter of former president Violeta Barrios de Chamorro (1990-1997) began to be investigated after the Ministry of the Interior accused her of irregularities in the administration of the foundation that bears her mother’s name — the organization is dedicated to defending the freedom of expression and training of journalists.
In 1990, Violeta Barrios defeated Daniel Ortega at the polls, when he sought re-election after his first term (1985-1990). He took office again in 2007 and was re-elected for the fourth time in a row last year after many of his opponents were arrested.
“My brothers Pedro Joaquin and Cristiana Chamorro proclaimed their innocence in the few minutes they had to speak,” his brother Carlos Chamorro said in a post-conviction tweet.
Cristiana was arrested the same week as seven other potential political rivals. A total of 46 opponents of the leftist Ortega, a former guerrilla commander, were arrested during last year’s elections.
Earlier this week, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet urged Ortega to restore a “credible, fair and transparent electoral process” ahead of the Central American country’s municipal elections later this year.
