The political prisoner and former Nicaraguan ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), Edgard Parrales, turned 80 this Wednesday, November 16, 2022, which makes him the oldest prisoner of conscience.
The former diplomat was sentenced last May to eight years in prison: five for “conspiracy to undermine national integrity” and three years for “propagation of false news”; in addition to 500 days of work, equivalent to 36,000 córdobas.
Parrales was sent under the house-to-prison regime since February 2022 due to health problems. However, judicial sources confided to CONFIDENTIAL that the authorities have not allowed him to be examined by specialist doctors. He also has precautionary measures granted by the IACHR, which ask the State of Nicaragua to “adopt the necessary measures to protect his rights to life, personal integrity, and health.”
The also analyst of diplomatic and religious issues, was arrested on November 22, 2021, when he left his home in Los Robles to do bank management. Initially, he spent 95 days in the cells of the Directorate of Judicial Assistance, known as El Chipote, where he lost 35 pounds of weight.
During his stay in those cells he also suffered an elbow injury that caused him vertigo. Because of his age, he also has hearing problems (he hardly hears), he is ill with his large intestine and urinary system, for which he must have medical check-ups every six months. Despite this, they have not allowed him to carry out a medical assessment by a specialist.
Last June, the second criminal trial district court of Managua, admitted an appeal filed by the defender of the former diplomat, Noel Alonzo Cano, for the sentence he received on May 5, 2022.
under house arrest
Cenidh has warned that “house arrest is not a guarantee of health and life for Dr. Edgard Parrales”, since the judge does not authorize the entry of his doctors to provide him with adequate treatment and carry out the tests that “guarantee his life ”.
“Doctor Edgard Parrales is in danger. We demand that the Ortega Murillo regime release him immediately, before the damage is irreparable, if he does not do so and does not allow specialized medical attention, he will be responsible for what may happen to him, “said the human rights organization.
Days before being arrested, he gave an interview to CONFIDENTIAL where he analyzed the latest government decision to remove the deanship of the diplomatic corps from the Apostolic Nuncio Waldemar Stalisnaw Sommertag, which the ecclesiastical expert considered an affront to the Catholic Church, “an act of revenge.”
He also referred in other media to the consequences that Nicaragua’s departure from the OAS could bring to the country.
More than 20 political prisoners are older adults
In February, CONFIDENTIAL revealed that the Ortega regime had 21 Nicaraguans over the age of 60 in prison. Of these, five are over 70 years of age. The oldest is Parrales, followed by Francisco Aguirre Sacasa (78), who he was returned to the cells of El Chipote on November 11; Mauricio Díaz Dávila (71 years old), Violeta Granera (71), Pedro Joaquín Chamorro (71) and Victor Hugo Tinoco (70).
This Tuesday, relatives of political prisoners demanded “proof of life” from their relatives, since 81 days have elapsed, in the case of those detained since May 2021, and more than 60 days, in the case of those detained since September 2022, since the last time they were visited at the Judicial Assistance Directorate, known as El Chipote. Since then, the authorities of the regime have not given them “any news” about them.
“We have been suffering and uncertain for more than two months; of not having any type of information regarding the health condition, access to medical attention and food of our relatives. Our oral requests for visits, as well as for information on the status and whereabouts of our relatives have been denied by the authorities of the Directorate of Judicial Assistance (DAJ) without any justification,” the relatives of the prisoners of conscience explained in a statement. press.
