The United States demanded this Saturday from Nicaragua the release of Bishop Rolando José Álvarez, who was sentenced to 26 years and four months in prison after refusing to be exiled by the Daniel Ortega regime to US territory.
A State Department spokesman also condemned, in statements to EFE, the withdrawal of Nicaraguan citizenship from the bishop and the 222 political prisoners who did agree to be transferred to the United States in exchange for being released.
“Bishop Rolando Álvarez is unjustly imprisoned and we will continue to press for his release,” said the same source.
The Government of Joe Biden “condemns the stripping of the citizenship of Monsignor Álvarez and of the hitherto political prisoners,” added the spokesman for US diplomacy.
“This measure violates the fundamental rights of these people,” he reproached.
Last Thursday, Nicaragua released and expelled 222 political prisoners from the country, who were transferred to Washington on a plane chartered by the US government.
Two prisoners refused to leave the country, including the bishop, who was subsequently sentenced to 26 years in prison, stripped of his citizenship, and transferred from house arrest to La Modelo prison.
The 222 Nicaraguans who arrived in the United States received a humanitarian permit to remain in US territory for two years, although several are analyzing the offer of the Government of Spain to receive Spanish nationality.
A silent future? Do not let that happen
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