In the second week of political trials against prisoners of conscience captured between May and December 2021, hearings are scheduled against seven of them, including journalists, political scientists, student leaders and two leaders of Unamos, formerly known as the Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS). ). All accused of violating Law 1055, known as the Sovereignty Law, one of the four repressive laws approved by the Ortega dictatorship at the end of 2020.
These processes are carried out in the El Chipote prison complex, and not in a corresponding court. The Carrying out these processes in prison facilities constitutes one more of the illegalities of due process, according to the specialist in Criminal Law, María Asunción Moreno, in an interview with Tonight.
Lawyers who closely follow the cases against political prisoners agree with Moreno that judges cannot hold hearings outside the Judicial Complex, and that the exceptions established in article 121 of the Criminal Procedure Code only apply to “proceedings” that require the presence of the judge in his territorial jurisdiction. However, they maintain that the exception does not apply in the case of these political trials, because neither the defense nor the Prosecutor’s Office have requested that they be held in Chipote.
The trials begin this Monday with the hearing against the political activist Suyen Barahona, president of Unamos, accused of “carrying out acts that undermine independence, sovereignty and self-determination”, within the framework of the provisions of Law 1055.
Barahona has been detained since June 13, 2021 in the cells of the Judicial Assistance Directorate (DAJ), along with thirty prisoners of conscience captured during the hunt unleashed by the Ortega-Murillo regime in the second half of 2021, prior to to the electoral process —indicated nationally and internationally as “illegitimate”— in which he self-elected for his fourth consecutive term.
Judged for your critical thinking
The hearing against journalist Miguel Mendoza, sports writer and blogger, is set for Tuesday, February 8. The prisoner of conscience has been imprisoned in Chipote for 229 days, also accused of violating Law 1055.
The accusation against the communicator was supported, according to reports from CONFIDENTIAL, in messages posted on their social network profiles. Mendoza expressed to his relatives, from the first visit, which he was allowed until 79 days after his capture, that it is clear that “he has not committed any crime.”
In these more than six months of confinement, Mendoza has lost more than 20 pounds in weight, has had a crisis due to his prediabetes and is subjected to prolonged isolation and exhaustive interrogations.
Trials and sentencing
The hearings scheduled for Wednesday, February 9 are those of José Antonio Peraza, political scientist and former president of the Movement for Nicaragua, detained since July 26, 2021; and that of Alexis Peralta, a public accountant from Condega, imprisoned on November 6, 2021.
In the case of the trial against Freddy Navas, a member of the Peasant Movement, captured for the second time on July 5, 2021, it was set for Thursday, February 10.
Former Vice Foreign Minister Victor Hugo Tinoco, also a member of Unamos, who was arrested on June 13, 2021; and student leader Max Jerez, member of the Nicaraguan University Alliance (AUN), arrested on June 5, 2021; They will face their impeachment trial on Friday, February 11.
During this week is also scheduled the sentencing for prisoners of conscience Yader Parajón, Yaser Vado, Ana Margarita Vijil, Dora María Téllez, Lesther Alemán, Miguel Mora and María Fernanda Flores, all sentenced last week for allegedly violating the Sovereignty Law.
