Political prisoners and opposition leaders Juan Sebastián Chamorro, Félix Maradiaga and Violeta Granera are one day away from completing a year of illegal detention ordered by the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo. On June 8, 2021, the dictatorship directed the “kidnappings”, just four months before its illegitimate elections. The three activists were convicted of the alleged crime of “conspiracy to undermine national integrity.”
The Ortega justice imposed 13-year sentences against the candidates for the Presidency of the country Chamorro and Maradiaga, while Granera was sentenced to eight years. All remain in the cells of the Directorate of Judicial Assistance (ADJ) known as “El Nuevo Chipote”. The hostages of conscience faced seven hearings that, according to their defenders, were “riddled with irregularities.”
Related news: 27 policemen testified against Juan Sebastián Chamorro and Félix Maradiaga
Currently, Granera, 70, is experiencing health problems. Her relatives denounce lack of medical attention. The political prisoner has presented a high pressure crisis; He suffers from heart problems and her body has white and red spots.
Her relatives reiterated their concern about the state of health of the member of the National and White Unity (Unab), since Granera told them that she feels physically weak, “that her body is deteriorating and that there are mornings when it is very difficult for her.” hard to get up.”
Chamorro and Maradiaga were sentenced under trials that, according to their international lawyer Jared Genser, were full of irregularities, among which it is mentioned that the hostages of conscience had little or no contact with their lawyers.
On the first day of the trial, prisoners were able to speak with their lawyers for two minutes before the trial began, under police surveillance. During the process, they were seated separately from their lawyers to prevent any communication. Defenders were also prevented from speaking freely in court and were denied speaking on several occasions.
Chamorro and Maradiaga “were prevented from speaking at any time during their trial; They were only allowed to nod “yes” or “no” and were even punished for doing so too enthusiastically. On the last day of his trial, each was allowed to make a brief three-minute statement, but it was the first time they were allowed to speak during the entire seven-day trial,” his defense attorney said.
Related news: Violeta Granera’s health deteriorating. Her family requests a change in the prison regime
During the trial, the Prosecutor’s Office presented 27 police officers as witnesses against the seven political prisoners, including Violeta Granera. The only evidence they were accused of was their participation in a WhatsApp group and some television interviews. They also presented the alleged material evidence, including objects that were obtained during the illegal searches of the prisoners’ houses.
The activists Berta Valle and Victoria Cárdenas have denounced the physical deterioration to which the regime has subjected their husbands, in addition to the psychological torture implemented against them. They assure that they fear for the lives of the hostages of conscience.
