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US Court Upholds Sanctions on Former Guatemalan Official Miguel Martínez
A federal court in Washington, D.C. ruled on 24 July 2026 that former Guatemalan Center of Government chief Miguel Martínez must remain on the U.S. Treasury’s Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list. Judge Beryl A. Howell denied Martínez’s request for summary judgment, finding that the Office of Foreign Assets Control acted within its authority under the Global Magnitsky Act. The sanctions, imposed on 1 December 2023, block Martínez’s bank accounts, assets and prohibit financial transactions with U.S. persons.
The United States alleges that Martínez used his position to steer state contracts to companies in which he had interests and that he solicited bribes connected to the purchase of 16 million doses of the Russian Sputnik V COVID‑19 vaccine. Martínez has called the measures politically motivated and says they cause economic and reputational harm. Guatemala’s Public Prosecutor’s Office has not pursued a criminal investigation against him.
Entities
Alejandro Giammattei · Beryl A. Howell · Luis Miguel Martínez Morales · Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) · U.S. Department of the Treasury
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Judge Beryl A. Howell issued the decision on 24 July 2026. republica.com · lahora.gt
- [● 3 SOURCES] US officials allege Martínez used his position to influence state contract awards to companies in which he had interests. republica.com · emisorasunidas.com · lahora.gt
- [● 3 SOURCES] US officials allege Martínez solicited bribes related to the purchase of 16 million doses of the Sputnik V vaccine. republica.com · emisorasunidas.com · lahora.gt
- [● 3 SOURCES] The sanctions block Martínez's bank accounts, assets and prohibit US financial transactions. republica.com · emisorasunidas.com · lahora.gt
- [● 2 SOURCES] Guatemala's Public Prosecutor's Office did not open a criminal investigation against Martínez. republica.com · lahora.gt
- [● 2 SOURCES] Martínez claims the sanctions cause economic and reputational damage and are politically motivated. republica.com · lahora.gt
- [● 3 SOURCES] A US federal court in Washington, D.C. denied Miguel Martínez's petition to be removed from the SDN list. republica.com · emisorasunidas.com · lahora.gt
- [● 3 SOURCES] The sanctions were imposed under the Global Magnitsky Act by the US Treasury's OFAC on 1 December 2023. republica.com · emisorasunidas.com · lahora.gt