Nicaragua
Impact | Negative
Rating CIVICUS | Repressed
In a response to national and internationally criticism over the government’s response to COVID-19, President Daniel Ortega published an official document, or white paper , in which he describes critical voices as “disinformative terrorism” and “false news campaigns.” He also refers to the role of the international media as “brutal, criminal and xenophobic.” The white paper released on May 25 details and justifies the measures taken, most of which were not published in the official gazette. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, has expressed concern in recent weeks regarding the increasing use of expressions that stigmatize and discredit the opposition and those who publicly criticize the government’s response to the crisis.