NICARAGUA has opened a money-laundering probe into opposition figure Cristiana Chamorro, with authorities claiming on Saturday that they had gathered “clear evidence” against her.

The Interior Ministry announced on Thursday that investigations had begun against the daughter of former president Violeta Chamorro, who ruled the country from 1990-97.

She was summoned on Friday to answer prosecutors’ questions about her finances regarding the Violeta Barrios de Chamorro Foundation for Reconciliation and Democracy, which she directed until February 2021.

Authorities are examining the charity’s financial statements from 2015-19.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has warned of “foreign agents” operating in the country in a bid to interfere in the forthcoming elections.

Suspicions were raised when the foundation ceased operations in Nicaragua in February as it refused to comply with a new law that required all organisations receiving international funding to register with the Interior Ministry.

Ms Chamorro hopes to stand against Mr Ortega in the presidential elections.

She is currently the vice-president of the opposition La Prensa media outlet, which also stands accused of receiving funding from the National Endowment for Democracy, a US “soft power” organisation established in 1983 to “do today what was done covertly 25 years ago by the CIA.”

In 2018 Nicaragua faced a violent right-wing coup attempt as US-backed armed gangs terrorised the country, establishing roadblocks designed to damage the economy and attacking supporters of the Sandinista government.

Mr Ortega initiated peace talks in a bid to restore stability and heal some of the wounds that had fractured communities.

But the country has faced sanctions and increased hostility from Washington, which seeks regime change as former national security adviser John Bolton branded Nicaragua part of a “troika of tyranny” along with Venezuela and Cuba.