Argentina Issues Arrest Warrant for Nicaragua's Ortega

Argentine federal judge Ariel Lijo has issued an arrest warrant for Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo, citing systematic human rights violations, including murder, torture, and forced deportations. The order is grounded in the principle of universal jurisdiction, enabling prosecution for crimes against humanity beyond national borders. Lijo's ruling follows an investigation initiated by Argentine lawyers, which uncovered evidence of a coordinated repression strategy targeting dissidents and marginalized groups in Nicaragua. The judge emphasized the extensive role of state apparatus in executing these violations, which began intensifying in April 2018 amidst widespread protests. The case highlights the deteriorating human rights situation in Nicaragua under Ortega's increasingly autocratic rule since 2007, with reports of over 450 individuals stripped of nationality and ongoing suppression of dissent. Human rights advocates continue to call attention to the climate of fear fostered by Ortega's government.