United States politicians put under the microscope Mexican businessman Remigio Ángel González, who owns the Albavisión network, of which Repretel Costa Rica is part, for his alleged involvement in corruption and crime in Guatemala.
A group of Republican and Democratic congressmen from the Foreign Affairs Committee of the US House of Representatives asked the government of President Donald Trump that the State and Treasury departments evaluate whether Gonzalez and five other people with businesses extended through Central America meet the criteria for accountability under the Magnitsky Act.
This law allows the US government to impose sanctions against citizens around the world who have been accused of alleged human rights abuses or acts of corruption in their own countries of origin.
In Costa Rica, Albavisión operates television channels 2, 4, 6 and 11, as well as eleven radio frequencies, including Monumental and Momentos Reloj.
In Guatemala, González controls four television stations – El Super Canal, Televisiete, Teleonce and Trecevisión, attaining a monopoly of commercial television channels.
In Nicaragua, as of May 2018, all the stations he owns, operates or advises in Nicaragua have sons and daughters of Nicaraguan dictator Daniel Ortega running them. González also owns 5 television stations in his native Mexico.
A 2001 study of González’ media properties in Guatemala and Nicaragua found that they had a tendency to squeeze out voices opposed to the government, and concluded that “Gonzalez’s ownership practices create an atmosphere that undercuts the development of democracy.”
The Mexican born González, who maintains a conservative political stance, but keeps a low profile and cooperate with host country governments, has lived in Miami since 1987.
