Surprise this Thursday, February 9 in Nicaragua: 222 political prisoners were released in the morning by the government of Daniel Ortega, out of 245 who would be retained in the country, according to a collective of NGOs. The interested parties were immediately put on a plane, heading for the United States. Among them, two French women.
This Thursday, Judge Octavio Rothschuh confirmed the release and expulsion of more than 222 political prisoners, stating that all had been deprived of their political rights and declared ” traitors to the country “.
“ Traitors to the homeland lose their Nicaraguan nationality “, indicates a constitutional reform adopted in first reading by the Parliament, controlled by the supporters of President Ortega. A text which must still be submitted to a second vote during the second half of 2023, but whose approval is considered granted.
However, the judge gave neither name nor reason for this sudden decision by the Ortega government which, during the repression of demonstrations in 2018, had sent hundreds of opponents to prison.
A situation that was repeated in 2021 for dozens of opposition figures, including several potential presidential candidates. The same year, Mr. Ortega was re-elected without difficulty for the fourth consecutive time.
The regime of the former Sandinista guerrilla, who returned to power in 2007, has become increasingly authoritarian over time.
Thursday morning, the 222 political prisoners, held in various prisons in the country or under house arrest, were therefore brought together and put on a charter, heading for Washington.
The US State Department hailed a ” positive and welcome decision “, specifying that the former prisoners will obtain a residence permit for an initial period of two years. Among them, an American and two French women, arrested last September and sentenced to eight years in prison.
These releases mark “ a constructive step toward addressing human rights abuses in the country and open the door to deeper dialogue between the United States and Nicaragua on issues of concern “, for his part, reacted the head of American diplomacy, Antony Blinken, in a press release.
We welcome the 222 Nicaraguan political prisoners released by the Government of Nicaragua today. We will continue to support improved conditions for the Nicaraguan people.
—Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) February 9, 2023
►To re-read: Nicaragua: two Franco-Nicaraguan women sentenced to eight years in prison for “treason”