New York Times

Nicaragua Releases 135 Political Prisoners on Humanitarian Grounds

Associated Press

US secures the release of 135 Nicaraguan political prisoners

Following negotiations with the Nicaraguan government, the United States successfully obtained the release of several political prisoners on Thursday. The White House announced that Nicaragua had released 135 prisoners from jail on humanitarian grounds.

Reuters

Nicaragua has deported the political prisoners to Guatemala before they may travel to the US or other countries. President Daniel Ortega's government has since 2018 increasingly cracked down on the opposition and exiled many opposition members.

US News & World Report

The Nicaraguan government has also shut down over 5K NGOs, private universities, and civil society organizations. The government has detained priests and pastors, sometimes arresting them during Mass.

BBC News

Jake Sullivan, the US National Security Advisor, stated that it is unacceptable to imprison anyone for peacefully enjoying their basic rights of free expression, association, and religion. Among the released political prisoners were 13 individuals from Mountain Gateway, a religious charity in Texas, as well as Catholic laypeople, students, and others.

Los Angeles times

According to the US State Department, the Nicaraguan government released the prisoners without receiving anything in return, and the negotiations did not affect US policy toward President Daniel Ortega.

Daniel Ortega, a former Marxist guerrilla leader who fought US-backed forces, regained power in 2007, initially perceived as moderate. However, he has since abolished presidential term limits, consolidated power over all government institutions.

Yahoo News

New York Times #1

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Following negotiations with the Nicaraguan government, the United States successfully obtained the release of several political prisoners on Thursday. The White House announced Nicaragua would release 135 prisoners, all Nicaraguan citizens, from jail on humanitarian grounds.

Reuters #

US News & World Report #

The Nicaraguan government has shut down over 5K NGOs, private universities, and civil society organizations. The government has unlawfully detained priests and pastors, sometimes hauling them away during Mass.

BBC News #

Los Angeles times #

Associated Press #3496

Daniel Ortega, a former Marxist guerrilla leader who fought US-backed forces, regained power in 2007, initially perceived as moderate. However, he has since abolished presidential term limits, consolidated power over all government institutions, and suppressed the Catholic Church and NGOs.

Yahoo News #

There is 29% chance Nicaragua will experience a successful coup d'etat before 2040, according to Metaculus prediction community.

Metaculus

Metaculus #

Prisoner release in Nicaragua

Nicaragua

Freedom & human rights

Civil liberties

Governance

This was a diplomatic victory for the US, which successfully negotiated the release of 135 political prisoners from President Ortega's dictatorship without offering anything in return. Ortega's arbitrary arrests and incarceration of members of the opposition and NGOs, and stripping dissidents of their nationality, must cease. No one should have to risk getting arrested for peacefully exercising their fundamental rights of free expression, assocation, and religtion.

U.S. secures release of 135 Nicaraguan political prisoners

The 2018 mass protests in Nicaragua were a failed coup with foreign backing. The Sandinista National Liberation Front asserts its right to defend the country. Nicaraguan authorities have taken legal action and handed down sentences to individuals charged with conspiracy and treason. The United States continued involvement in Nicaragua's internal affairs is seen as an example of North American imperialism.

Prisoner release in Nicaragua

Prisoner release in Nicaragua

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