Regime-critical bishop is being investigated in Nicaragua

Nicaraguan police have opened an investigation against one of the Catholic Church’s bishops in the country. The police accuse the church and bishop Rolando Álvarez of inciting violence and wanting to destabilize the country.

Álvarez, an outspoken critic of President Daniel Ortega, has since Thursday together with several parishioners, both priests and private individuals, been prevented from leaving the bishop’s residence in the city of Matagalpa in northern Nicaragua. The police say that several people in addition to the bishop are being investigated and that during the investigation they will not be allowed to leave the residence.

Neither the leadership of the church in Nicaragua nor the Vatican have commented on this week’s events.

Earlier this week, Ortega’s government shut down eight radio stations and one television station in Matagalpa province. Seven of the radio stations were run by the church.