Nicaragua government announced on Sunday that it has released a prominent Catholic bishop, Rolando Álvarez, along with 18 other clergy members who were imprisoned over a year ago in a crackdown led by President Daniel Ortega. The clergy were handed over to Vatican authorities.
The imprisonment of Bishop Álvarez and the other clergy members was part of a broader crackdown on the opposition and the Catholic Church by President Ortega. Ortega accused them of supporting the large-scale civic protests in 2018, which he alleged were a conspiracy to overthrow his government.
The government’s press statement indicated that these releases were the result of negotiations with the Vatican, facilitating the clergy’s journey to the Vatican. In the past, imprisoned priests have been swiftly flown to Rome. Ortega’s government said those released Sunday also included Bishop Isidoro Mora.
In February, President Ortega sent 222 prisoners to the United States in a deal facilitated by the U.S. government. However, Ortega later revoked the citizenship of those prisoners. Bishop Rolando Álvarez, despite being convicted of conspiracy and receiving a 26-year prison sentence, remained in prison for over a year. He is one of the country’s most outspoken clergy members and had refused to board the February flight to the U.S. without consulting with other bishops.
In October, Nicaragua released a dozen Catholic priests who were previously jailed on various charges, sending them to Rome as part of an agreement with the Vatican.
Since suppressing widespread protests in 2018 demanding his resignation, Ortega’s government has systematically silenced dissenting voices and targeted the church. This included the confiscation of the prestigious Jesuit-run University of Central America in August. Nicaragua government announced
Nicaragua’s Congress, largely controlled by Ortega’s Sandinista National Liberation Front, has ordered the closure of over 3,000 non-governmental organizations, including Mother Teresa’s charity. The actions reflect a broader pattern of suppressing opposition and limiting civil society in the country.