Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/607Show full title

Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/607

of 4 May 2020

amending Decision (CFSP) 2019/1720 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Nicaragua

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 29 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

(1) On 14 October 2019 the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2019/1720(1) concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Nicaragua.

(2) On 14 October 2019 the Council also adopted conclusions in which it recalled its concern at the deteriorating political and social situation in Nicaragua and firm condemnation of the repression by security forces and pro-government armed groups of political opponents, demonstrators, independent media and civil society organisations that had been ongoing since April 2018. The Union also affirmed its determination to use all its instruments to support a peaceful and negotiated solution to the crisis and its intention to monitor the situation in the country closely in order to react to further deterioration of human rights and the rule of law.

(3) The Council, underscoring its concerns with regard to the overall situation in respect of human rights and democratic governance, adopted restrictive measures and noted that those measures would be used in a gradual and flexible manner and that specific designations could be added in the event of a continued stalemate and further deterioration in respect of human rights and the rule of law.

(4) In view of the continuing grave situation in Nicaragua, six persons should be included in the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures set out in the Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2019/1720.

(5) The Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2019/1720 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 U.K.

The Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2019/1720 is amended as set out in the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2 U.K.

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, 4 May 2020.

For the Council

The President

G. Grlić Radman

ANNEX U.K.

The following entries are inserted under the heading ‘List of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies referred to in Articles 1 and 2’ in the Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2019/1720:

	Name	Identifying information	Reasons	Date of listing
‘1.	Ramón Antonio AVELLÁN MEDAL	Date of birth: 11 November 1954 Place of birth: Jinotepe, Nicaragua Passport number: A0008696 Issued: 17 October 2011 Expires: 17 October 2021 Gender: male	Deputy Director-General of the Nicaraguan National Police (NNP) and former chief of the police in Masaya. Responsible for serious human rights violations and for the repression of civil society and democratic opposition in Nicaragua, including by coordinating the repression of protesters in Masaya in 2018.	4.5.2020
2.	Sonia CASTRO GONZÁLEZ	Date of birth: 29 September 1967 Place of birth: Carazo, Nicaragua Passport number: A00001526 Issued: 19 November 2019 Expires: 19 November 2028 ID number: 0422909670000N Gender: female	Special advisor to the President of Nicaragua on health issues and former Minister of Health. Responsible for serious human rights violations and for the repression of civil society and democratic opposition in Nicaragua, including by hindering access to emergency medical assistance for injured civilians involved in demonstrations and ordering hospital staff to report demonstrators who have been brought to hospital by the police.	4.5.2020
3.	Francisco Javier DÍAZ MADRIZ	Date of birth: 3 August 1961 Gender: male	General Director of the Nicaraguan National Police (NNP) since 23 August 2018 and former Deputy General Director of NNP. Responsible for serious human rights violations and for the repression of civil society and democratic opposition in Nicaragua, including by leading police forces committing violence against civilians, including excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests and detentions and torture.	4.5.2020
4.	Néstor MONCADA LAU	Date of birth: 2 March 1954 Gender: male	Personal advisor to the President of Nicaragua on national security matters. In this capacity, he has been directly involved in and responsible for decision-making on national security matters and the establishment of repressive policies carried out by the State of Nicaragua against people taking part in demonstrations, opposition representatives and journalists in Nicaragua from April 2018 onwards.	4.5.2020
5.	Luís PÉREZ OLIVAS	Date of birth: 8 January 1956 Gender: male	General Commissioner and Legal Assistance Main Officer (DAEJ) in the ‘El Chipote’ penitentiary centre. Responsible for serious human rights violations, including torture, use of extensive force, mistreatment of detainees and other forms of degrading treatment.	4.5.2020
6.	Justo PASTOR URBINA	Date of birth: 29 January 1956 Gender: male	Head of Police Special Operations Unit (DOEP). He has been directly involved in the implementation of repressive policies against demonstrators and the opposition in Nicaragua, particularly in Managua. In this context, he is responsible for serious human rights violations and for the repression of civil society and democratic opposition in Nicaragua.	4.5.2020’

(1)

Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/1720 of 14 October 2019 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Nicaragua (OJ L 262, 15.10.2019, p. 58).