On 4 May 2020 the Council of the European Union have included six Nicaraguan officials in the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to asset freezing measures and a travel ban. The listed individuals are deemed responsible for serious human rights violations and for the repression of civil society and democratic opposition in Nicaragua.

Given the ongoing political crisis in Nicaragua, on 14 October 2019, the Council adopted a framework to impose sanctions (Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1716 and Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/1720). This framework enables the EU to impose targeted restrictive measures, including travel bans and assets freeze, against persons, entities or bodies responsible for serious human rights violations and for undermining democracy and the rule of law, as well as persons associated with them.

In light of the continuing grave situation in Nicaragua, the Council have included six government officials in the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures (Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/606 and Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/607).