Nicaragua: Bishop Rolando Alvarez sentenced to 26 years in prison for refusing forced exile

Nicaraguan bishop Rolando Alvarez in Managua in May 2018. AP - Moises Castillo

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In Nicaragua, one of the voices most critical of the dictatorial regime of President Daniel Ortega has just been sentenced to 26 years in prison.

Monsignor Rolando Alvarez, the bishop of Matagalpa in the north of the country, had refused to board the plane which had brought, this Thursday, 222 political prisoners to the United States,

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He refused to be expelled from his country, Nicaragua.

He refused forced exile in the United States, even if it would have allowed him to escape the yoke of the dictatorship.

On the tarmac of Managua airport, this Thursday, Monsignor Rolando Alvarez once again refused to give in to

.

The Bishop of Managalpa is one of the prominent Nicaraguan opponents.

He does not hesitate to vigorously denounce the human rights violations committed by the regime.

His voice carries, both within the country and abroad.

This is why last year his episcopal residence was besieged by the police for three weeks before he was arrested.

Since August 2021, the prelate has been under house arrest.

Immediately after refusing to board the plane on Thursday,

was taken to prison.

The next day, he was sentenced to 26 years in prison for conspiracy.

Demonstration in support of the government

Several thousand people marched this Saturday in Nicaragua to show their support for President Daniel Ortega's decision to release and deport to the United States 222 political prisoners accused of being "traitors to the country 

.

The pro-government demonstration took place in the main streets of the capital Managua, where participants, carrying flags of Nicaragua, Venezuela, Cuba and the ruling Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), chanted slogans in favor of the government and against the opposition.

Among those expelled are former presidential candidates, journalists, former Sandinista guerrilla commanders, former ministers and ex-diplomats.

Hundreds of opponents have been detained in Nicaragua following the crackdown on protests that erupted in 2018 against Daniel Ortega, in power since 2007 and re-elected in disputed elections.

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