Nicaragua grants citizenship to embattled ex-Salvadoran president

 Mauricio Funes

MANAGUA, July 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Former Salvadoran president Mauricio Funes has been granted Nicaraguan citizenship, according to a decree published on Tuesday in the Nicaraguan government registry.

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, who began his term in June, vowed to bring Funes back to the country within his first 90 days in office. Bukele’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Funes, who governed El Salvador between 2009 and 2014, is accused of embezzlement and money laundering involving $351 million, Salvadoran prosecutors have said.

The Nicaraguan constitution holds that no citizen may be extradited.