Chaves announces a series of measures to fight crime, including increasing the police staffing, tougher laws and restriction of the sale of ammunition.

Russian cyber criminal gang Conti infiltrates government agencies and demands $20,000,000 from the government. Chaves declares a state of emergency.

In the runoff, Chaves is declared the winner, with nearly 53% of the vote.

Figueres holds lead with 27% of the vote and Chaves is second with 17%, a clear sign that they will face each other in a runoff.

Voting today for president and legislative assembly. There are two dozen candidates for president. Main issues are high unemployment and corruption. Former president José Maria Figueres of the National Liberation Party (PLN), a centrist takes a lead in early counting with about 27% of the vote. Other main candidates are former vice-president Lineth Saborío, economist and former finance minister Rodrigo Chaves, who has taken anti-establishment positions, and populist evangelical preacher Fabricio Alvarado Munoz. It is unlikely anyone will receive the 40% of the vote necessary to avoid a runoff, which would be held in April. In a surprise, Chaves comes in second and will face Figueres in the runoff. During his decade-plus tenure with the World Bank, Chaves was demoted after an investigation over “inappropriate behavior of a sexual nature.” Though he was not fired, he was barred from rehiring and his access to World Bank properties was restricted. While in private business, Figueres was involved in a deal with Alcatel in which he received substantial payments. However, his name was not disclosed in the contract and he only declared the income after the deal was revealed in 2004. That year, Figueres left the country and did not return for almost eight years, despite multiple pleas for him to do so. Authorities investigated him from 2004 to 2007, but never filed charges against him.

Nicaragua recalls its ambassadors to Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico for “consultations,” after these countries recall their ambassadors following the anti-democratic behavior of the Nicaraguan government.

Some Costa Ricans march in support of Nicaragua opposition. Many Nicaraguans are seeking asylum in Costa Rica.

UN says that thousands have fled Nicaragua and applied for asylum in Costa Rica.

South Korea signs free-trade agreement with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Panama.