Nicaragua strips lawyers from practicing in ongoing crackdown on dissent

MEXICO CITY — Nicaragua’s government has recently revoked the licenses of numerous lawyers, leading a United Nations expert to describe it as a “purge of the legal profession” intended to undermine the country’s remaining democratic safeguards.

The ruling couple, Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, have been cracking down on dissent since the violent suppression of mass protests in 2018. This crackdown has resulted in the imprisonment of opponents, journalists, religious leaders, and others, prompting many to flee the country. Additionally, hundreds have been stripped of their Nicaraguan citizenship and belongings, while over 5,000 organizations, including religious groups, rotary clubs, and scouting organizations, have been shut down.

In a recent development, lawyers discovered that their licenses to practice law in Nicaragua had been revoked without explanation by the Supreme Court of Justice. This move, which affects hundreds if not thousands of legal professionals, is seen as part of a broader effort to eliminate any obstacles between the government and its citizens.

One of the affected lawyers, Juan Diego Barberena, who is currently exiled in Costa Rica, emphasized that this action is a way for the dictatorship to exert control over the legal profession and restrict who can practice law. The removal of licenses from the system, Barberena noted, extends beyond political dissidents to include ordinary Nicaraguans living abroad and even government supporters.

This latest move by the Nicaraguan authorities is viewed as a further erosion of judicial independence in a system already heavily influenced by Ortega and Murillo. It not only serves as a punitive measure against dissent but also aims to limit the participation of lawyers, experts, and academics in shaping the country’s future institutions.

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