The policy of President Joe Biden’s government towards Nicaragua has not changed, but no new sanctions will be announced either, he said in an interview with the Voice of AmericaDeputy Assistant Secretary of State for Central America in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Eric Jacobstein.
“Our policy towards Nicaragua has not changed. We remain committed to accountability, in terms of the human rights violations, “in terms of the rapprochement with Russia, with China, and also in terms of the way in which this government is facilitating irregular migration,” the official said.
Jacobstein stressed that they are also “very concerned” especially about “what Russia is doing in Nicaragua.”
However, he clarified that there will be no new sanctions against the administration of President Daniel Ortega, but that the United States will continue to advocate for political prisoners and the Nicaraguan people.
“God bless Guatemala and the United States”
The official also referred to the release of 135 political prisoners, on behalf of the Nicaraguan government, who arrived in Guatemala on Thursday, since it claimed to have been present at the time of their landing at the airport in Guatemala City
“It was a very emotional experience for me, people coming and saying: ‘God bless Guatemala, God bless the United States.’”
“There was a lot of joy about leaving prison, about being free again. So I understand that on the plane they were happy, singing, talking, there were meetings between several people who had not seen each other for a long time… it was a very joyful spirit that day,” he added.
It should be noted that recently the Biden administration confirmed having mediated in this release.
Regarding what will happen to each of them, the undersecretary assured the VOA that they will be provided with all the information on the legal avenues that exist, both for them and their families, to establish themselves in the United States and other countries.
In Photos | This is how freed Nicaraguan political prisoners arrived in Guatemala
Mediation between the United States and Guatemala allowed the release of 135 Nicaraguan political prisoners who are already in Guatemalan territory.
So far, he added, his country is working to support the processes “as quickly as possible” and to provide them with accommodation, food, health care and psychosocial support.
In addition, he said, the State Department has provided a telephone number, website and email address so that relatives can be in contact with the released prisoners.
As for citizenship, Jacobstein hopes it will not be stripped away, as happened with the 222 Nicaraguan prisoners released in February last year, which included more political prisoners, including former presidential candidates, who were welcomed by Washington.
[Con la colaboración de Karen Sánchez desde Bogotá]
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