Within the framework of the international day of the journalist, the platform “Nicas Free Now” demanded the immediate and unconditional release of journalists Jaime Arellano, Pedro Joaquín Chamorro, Juan Lorenzo Holmann, Miguel Mendoza, Cristiana Chamorro, and Miguel Mora, who have been imprisoned for more than a year.
On social networks, the entity denounced that Daniel Ortega’s regime is holding journalists captive for informing the population of events in the country and using “their right to freedom of expression.”
“Today is International Journalist’s Day and since #NicasLibresYa we continue to demand the release of those imprisoned for political reasons. Christian Chamorro He did not commit any crime, he only defended freedom of expression,” he wrote on his Twitter account. Twitter.
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He also pointed out that the sports chronicler miguel mendoza He has not committed any crime, «he only used his right to freedom of expression. Today is International Journalist’s Day and he deserves to celebrate it in freedom with his union ».
Margin Pozo, Mendoza’s wife, told the team of Article 66 that the journalist was imprisoned by the Ortega dictatorship for being critical of his administration and sharing information regarding the situation in the country.
“Everything that has happened is very painful for us and everything that has happened with the arbitrary detention of Miguel (Mendoza) on June 21, 2021 is unfair. Miguel was detained for his right to exercise freedom of expression. expression,” said Pozo.
Mendoza’s imprisonment “is unfair, because he is a journalist and as a journalist he has the right to express himself and be able to share, communicate. Everything that has happened is really inhumane », he denounced.
The “Nicas Libres Ya” platform also highlighted that the journalist “Michael Mora He is innocent of the crimes for which he was accused. They sentenced him for exercising his right to inform.”
The six journalists held hostage by the Ortega-Murillo dictatorship were sentenced to between eight and 13 years in prison. Cristiana Chamorro, Jaime Arellano and Pedro Joaquín Chamorro remain under house arrest.
Cristiana and Pedro Joaquín Chamorro were accused of the alleged crimes of money laundering, goods and assets, ideological falsehood, appropriation and improper retention. Ortega’s justice sentenced the presidential candidate to eight years in prison and her brother sentenced him to nine years.
Ortega’s justice accused political commentator Jaime Arellano and sportswriter Miguel Mendoza of allegedly conspiring to undermine and spread false news, through information and communication technology. Arellano was sentenced to 13 years in prison and Mendoza to nine years.
Likewise, the journalist Miguel Mora was accused of allegedly conspiring “to undermine national integrity” and the Second Judge of the Criminal District of Managua, Nadia Camila Tardencilla sentenced him to 13 years in prison.
Juan Lorenzo Holmann, general manager of La Prensa, was sentenced to nine years in prison for the alleged crime of money laundering.
As of August 31, the Mechanism for the Recognition of Political Prisoners in Nicaragua reported that 205 Nicaraguans remain imprisoned for opposing the Ortega regime.
