ROS-LEHTINEN AND SIRES LEAD BIPARTISAN, BICAMERAL LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT URGING INVOCATION OF GLOBAL MAGNITSKY LAW IN SUPPORT OF THE NICARAGUAN PEOPLE

The following press release was issued by Florida Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) on December 1, regarding The Global Magnitsky Law.
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Cosigners include: Senators Marco Rubio, Robert Menendez, Ted Cruz, Bill Nelson, and Reps. Ed Royce, Eliot Engel, Paul Cook, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Albio Sires (D-NJ) were joined by Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Bill Nelson (D-FL), and Reps. Ed Royce (R-CA), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Paul Cook (R-CA), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), in sending a bipartisan and bicameral letter to the President urging the administration to use the authority provided by the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act to hold individuals in Nicaragua accountable for deep rooted corruption and human rights violations. The letter expresses concern regarding the actions of Nicaragua’s Supreme Electoral Council (CSE) and the Venezuelan PDVSA subsidiary in Nicaragua, ALBANISA, and calls for the Department of State and Department of Treasury to take immediate action to determine whether Roberto Rivas, CSE’s President, and Francisco Lopez, Vice-President of ALBANISA, meet the law’s criteria to be sanctioned. To read a copy of the letter, please click here.

Joint Statement By Ros-Lehtinen and Sires:​

“Global Magnistky determinations may have already been decided by the Administration, nevertheless, given the number of well-documented reports that implicate Rivas and Lopez in a wide array of human rights violations and corrupt activities, we urge State and Treasury to take immediate action to determine if these two individuals meet the criteria to be sanctioned under the Global Magnistky Act.

​“Rivas has overseen several elections marred by irregularities, depriving the Nicaraguan people of democratic elections in what represent gross violations of internationally recognized human rights. Lopez is likely directly responsible for, or complicit in, ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, acts of significant corruption through ALBANISA – a subsidiary of Venezuela’s PDVSA. This bicameral and bipartisan letter demonstrates Congress’ willingness to work with the Administration in order to prioritize and further promote the cause of human rights and democracy in Nicaragua.”

12.01.17 Congressional Glob... by pobletetamargo on Scribd

The full press release can be read here.