After the second wave of repression on Saturday, May 13, which ended with at least 18 citizens kidnapped, prosecuted and forced to periodically sign in with the Police, many have made the decision to go into exile to avoid being targeted by the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega.
On this occasion, the turn to leave the country was for Donovan, a member of the Youth and Student Unit, who to avoid retaliation against his family decided to omit his real name.
Related news: Opponent Juan Carlos Márquez decides to go into exile, after being forced to sign a newspaper in the Police
The opponent, 22 years old, said, in an interview with Article 66that the attack against him began on Thursday, May 11, when police officers, dressed in civilian clothes, arrived with a photograph in hand to a Managua neighborhood where he lived with his family, asking specifically for him.
“After asking my neighbors for me, they came to my house, they asked my grandmother who lived there, so I took my phone and computer and moved them so they wouldn’t be stolen, already on Saturday —May 13— at least 12 police officers arrived to arrest me; They put me inside the cabin of a patrol car and took me directly to the Managua courts,” said the now exiled man.
He also added that while he was on board a police van, the uniformed men harassed him and asked him who was financing him and who his leaders were.
Accused of impairment and cybercrime
As has happened with the first and second wave of kidnappings, Donovan was charged by the Ortega justice for cybercrimes and undermining national integrity, “for requesting sanctions for the people of Nicaragua, its institutions and officials.”
“While in court, the officers proceeded to take my personal information and fingerprints. There I was able to see six other people who were also going to be prosecuted; and in the corridors I managed to see another group of citizens, “said the opponent.
After issuing precautionary measures and forcing him to report to the local police station to sign a newspaper, the political activist decided to leave the same day of his partial release, fearing that the repression against him would increase.
Related news: Ortega orders another wave of kidnappings: At least 18 opponents arrested this weekend
«After I was forced to sign, the same Sunday I packed my things and left my house. I arrived at a border area of Nicaragua and early Monday morning —15 of this month— I entered another country irregularly,” he narrated.
This is the second opponent —the first was Juan Carlos Márquez— who was forced to leave Nicaragua, adding to the list of exiles for political reasons.
