Nicaragua revokes the citizenship of detained political figures
Nicaraguan authorities declared on Tuesday that they will strip 135 previously freed political prisoners of their citizenship, with their possessions set for confiscation, following a court order in Managua. Since the beginning of 2023, a total of 451 opposition figures have lost their citizenship, as reported by AFP.
These 135 individuals, who were released on September 5 under U.S. pressure, were welcomed in Guatemala. They included students, devout Catholics, and affiliates of a Texas-based Christian mission. According to the White House, they were imprisoned because President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, viewed them as a threat to their authoritarian rule.
Ortega has been serving his fourth consecutive term in Nicaragua since 2021. The U.S. and the European Union have voiced concerns over the legitimacy of these elections, criticized Ortega's authoritarian regime, and imposed sanctions as a result.
Ortega, now 78 years old, previously served as Nicaragua's leader from 1979 to 1990. His Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) orchestrated the downfall of long-time dictator Anastasio Somoza, who had previously received backing from the U.S. during his tenure.
The European Union, along with the United States, has voiced concerns over the legitimacy of Ortega's rule in Nicaragua and has criticized his authoritarian regime. The released political prisoners, including students and devout Catholics, might find support and protection in various European Union countries due to their shared human rights values.
