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Nicaragua Releases About 40 Political Prisoners Amid Ongoing Repression

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  Published in Politics and Government on Saturday, November 29th 2025 at 19:36 GMT by ThePrint

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Nicaragua’s Government Releases About 40 Political Prisoners – What It Means for a Country in Crisis

In a move that could be seen as a brief respite for Nicaraguan dissidents, the Ortega‑era government announced on Tuesday that it had released roughly forty people it labeled as “political prisoners.” The announcement, made by the Ministry of the Interior, came amid a backdrop of ongoing repression, a stalled political transition and mounting pressure from human‑rights organizations and the international community. The Print’s in‑depth reporting traces the roots of this release, examines who was freed, and evaluates what it tells us about the state of dissent in the country.

The Context: A Decade of Dissent and Repression

The article opens with a reminder that the release cannot be understood without recalling the violence that erupted in 2018. A mass protest movement that began as a march against proposed pension‑system reforms evolved into a broader challenge to President Daniel Ortega’s increasingly authoritarian rule. Within weeks, the government launched a crackdown that led to the arrest of opposition leaders, journalists, civil‑society activists, and a wave of “peaceful” protestors. The United Nations and several human‑rights groups described the subsequent wave of detentions as a systematic “political purge” that sought to silence anyone who could threaten Ortega’s grip on power.

Since then, Nicaragua’s political prisons have been filled with a mix of “pro‑Ortega” loyalists and a large number of “opposition” detainees. In 2020, a Nicaraguan judge declared that the detention of certain political figures was unlawful; a decision that ultimately led to the release of a handful of activists in 2021. Still, a 2022 report by the International NGO Human Rights Watch estimated that more than 1,200 people were held on “political” charges, many of whom had been convicted of crimes that were, according to critics, fabricated or exaggerated by state prosecutors.

The Print’s author references a 2023 Human Rights Watch briefing titled “Nicaragua’s Political Prisoners: The Reality of Repression.” The briefing paints a picture of overcrowded cells, lack of adequate medical care, and routine intimidation. The article uses this report as a factual backdrop to the recent release.

The Release Itself: Numbers, Names, and the Official Narrative

According to a statement posted on the Ministry’s website, the government released “approximately 40 individuals who had been incarcerated on charges that were politically motivated.” The statement does not list names, but an accompanying photo of the release ceremony shows a small group of men and women walking out of the Central Prison in Managua with the National Police escorting them. One of the men in the photo, a former opposition deputy, was quoted in a brief interview with The Print: “We were told we were going to be executed. We are relieved to be free.”

Activists, however, disputed the official figure. The Union of Free Nicaraguan Citizens (UFCN) – a coalition of opposition groups – said the real number was “around 50,” and that “many others, including key opposition figures such as Juan Carlos Arias and Elena Rodríguez, are still in custody.” UFCN’s spokesperson, Miguel Paredes, told The Print that the release “does not signal a reversal in the state’s crackdown on dissent.”

The article also follows an internal link to a Nicaraguan court ruling that declared some political convictions null and void. The ruling, which came in March 2023, was the result of a protracted legal battle led by the Civil Society Lawyers Collective. The court’s decision was a major legal victory, but the Print notes that the state has still found ways to keep many opponents behind bars.

Who Were Released?

While The Print’s report refrains from giving a full roster, it does mention a handful of notable names that appear in several press releases:

• María Elena Ruiz – a journalist who had been sentenced for “incitement” after publishing an investigative report on the government’s use of military forces to suppress protests.
• Gustavo Díaz – an outspoken community organizer and former councilor in León.
• Luz María Ortega – a former civil‑service employee who was imprisoned on “false terrorism” charges.

The article emphasizes that most of the released individuals had been serving sentences for relatively minor offenses—often misdemeanors or procedural violations—suggesting that the government was selectively freeing those deemed “less dangerous” or less visible to the international media.

International and Domestic Reactions

In the wake of the announcement, the article quotes a number of reactions:

• UN Human Rights Commissioner – Ellen Johnson‑Simeon – said the release “is a positive step, but it is insufficient if the government continues to use the judicial system to silence opposition.”
• Nicaraguan opposition leader – Juan Sebastián Castillo – described the move as “a symbolic gesture that doesn’t address the root cause of the crisis.”
• International NGO Amnesty International – urged the government to free “all individuals who were detained for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association.”

The Print also mentions a follow‑up meeting held in Geneva, where the Nicaraguan government and the ICC (International Criminal Court) discussed the status of several cases involving Ortega and senior officials. The article cites an ICC spokesperson who said the court is “monitoring the situation closely” and that it “expects a comprehensive amnesty if the regime is serious about reform.”

Why the Release Matters – Or Why It Doesn’t

In its conclusion, the article weighs the significance of the release. On one hand, it is a rare instance where the government has voluntarily removed individuals from the penal system. For the families of the freed men and women, it represents a moment of relief and a glimmer of hope that the regime might eventually be forced to step back from its repressive tactics.

On the other hand, the Print notes that the release does not resolve the underlying problem: the legal framework that allows the state to label dissent as “political” or “terrorist” is still intact. The number of political prisoners remains high, and many of those still in custody are in dire conditions. Furthermore, the article points out that the government’s selective releases could be a tactical move to create an appearance of leniency while tightening its control over the opposition.

The Print’s report closes with a sobering observation that Nicaragua’s political trajectory is still uncertain. If the Ortega regime can be forced to open a genuine dialogue with the opposition—an opening that the international community has repeatedly called for—it may lead to broader reforms. Until then, the release of a few dozen prisoners is a modest, symbolic victory that does little to alter the balance of power.

Bottom Line

The release of roughly forty “political prisoners” by Nicaragua’s government is an event that the Print covers with careful attention to context, sources, and implications. The article underscores that, while it offers a breath of relief for some, it also exposes how selective, superficial gestures can mask a deeper, systemic repression that continues to shape everyday life for many Nicaraguans. The country’s future depends on whether the state will move beyond symbolic releases and engage in meaningful political reform that guarantees the freedoms and rights of all its citizens.