11 Nicaraguan Officials Added to Sanctions

Summary#

The Canada Gazette published the final rule Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Nicaragua) Regulations — SOR/2021-229 on November 24, 2021. The change adds 11 Nicaraguan individuals to Canada’s sanctions list and makes minor wording fixes to the French text; the rule came into force on registration day (November 14, 2021) and applied before publication.

What it does#

• Adds 11 people to the schedule of the Special Economic Measures (Nicaragua) Regulations, meaning the sanctions in that regulation now apply to those people.
• Makes two small wording changes to the French version of the regulation (technical language fixes).
• States that the regulations apply before they were published and that they came into force on the day they were registered (November 14, 2021).

Who's affected#

• The 11 individuals added to the list:
  • Alba Luz RAMOS Vanegas
  • Bayardo ARCE Castaño
  • Luis Angel MONTENEGRO Espinoza
  • Mohamed LASHTAR
  • Sadrach ZELEDÓN Rocha
  • Leonidas Nicolás CENTENO Rivera
  • Francisco Ramón VALENZUELA Blandon
  • José Adrián CHAVARRÍA Montenegro
  • Rodolfo Francisco LÓPEZ Guitiérrez
  • José Antonio CASTAÑEDA Méndez
  • Salvador MANSELL Castrillo
• People and organizations in Canada, and Canadians abroad, who do business with those listed persons. That includes:
  • Banks and other financial institutions (must update screening and compliance systems).
  • Businesses, charities, or individuals who might otherwise send money, goods, or services to the named people.
• The listed individuals are made inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (as noted in the regulatory text).
• Enforcement agencies named in the rule include the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canada Border Services Agency.
• Penalties for knowingly breaking the rules can include a fine of up to $25,000 (or imprisonment in more serious cases).

Why it matters#

• The change tightens Canada’s targeted sanctions on people linked to human-rights abuses and actions around Nicaragua’s 2021 election. It is meant to increase pressure on Nicaragua’s government without imposing broad trade restrictions.
• In practical terms, the newly listed people face restrictions on their assets and on financial and commercial dealings with Canadians or in Canada. This can limit their ability to use Canadian banks or do business that touches Canada.
• Canadian banks and other firms will need to check their systems for these new names. Officials expect only small compliance costs because direct dealings with these specific individuals are unlikely for most businesses.
• The move signals Canada’s alignment with other countries that imposed sanctions and is meant as a diplomatic tool to push for respect for human rights and fair elections in Nicaragua.