Nicaragua Finds Journalist and Ex-Foreign Minister Guilty of Crimes Against National Sovereignty

By Joshua Summers Feb 10 2022, 05:39 AM EST

A former presidential hopeful and journalist and an ex-foreign minister were the latest political opposition members in Nicaragua to be imprisoned.

Journalist and presidential hopeful Miguel Mora, who was arrested before the country's elections last November 7, was convicted on Wednesday, Associated Press reported.

According to reports, Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega's administration accused the journalist of having "promoted economic sanctions" and that he also incited "foreign interference in internal affairs."

Mora was then slammed with charges in connection to "conspiracy to undermine national integrity." On Wednesday, Mora's lawyer announced on national television that the Nicaraguan journalist had been sentenced to 13 years in prison.

It was aired on the 100% Noticias, a television station where Mora served as the director until he was imprisoned.

The trials of the 46 opposition figures arrested between May and June, including seven presidential hopefuls like Mora, reportedly began last February 1.

Mora's hopes to run in the country's elections was shortened when Ortega ordered him and six other contenders arrested, allowing Ortega to run almost unopposed.

Nicaragua's Former Foreign Minister Convicted

Former foreign minister of Nicaragua Francisco Aguirre Sacasa was also convicted on Tuesday with the same charges slammed against Miguel Mora, CNN reported.

Sacasa's conviction was confirmed by the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights (CENIDH) and his relatives. According to Sacasa's son, Roberto Aguirre, the ex-foreign minister is facing an up to eight-year prison sentence as requested by Nicaragua's prosecutor's office.

In a statement, Sacasa's son noted that his father, who was arrested on July 29 for alleged crimes against national sovereignty, spent at least 200 days in the Chipote prison. He also said that his father had not committed treason to the country where he offered his services.

The former foreign minister's sentencing is scheduled for February 16.

Other Opposition Members in Nicaragua Arrested

Another journalist, Miguel Mendoza, is also facing alleged crimes against national sovereignty. Prosecutors reportedly requested a nine-year prison sentence for Mendoza, a move that was slammed by CENIDH, calling the charges "invented crimes."

Nicaragua's National Police reportedly arrested Mendoza at his home on June 21. Last February, two prominent opposition figures were convicted for "forming an association of wrongdoers undermining national integrity," Al Jazeera reported.

The duo was Dora Maria Tellez and student leader Lesther Aleman. Tellez was a former rebel who fought alongside President Ortega and served his government, but she later became the opposition Sandinista Renovation Movement leader.

Court proceedings for Tellez and Aleman occurred in El Chipote prison, where dozens of activists and opposition members were held.

The Judicial Defence Unit, a coalition of lawyers, confirmed that a judge recommended that Tellez be sentenced to 15 years in prison. On the other hand, it was unclear how long the sentence was being recommended for Aleman, the Nicaraguan University Alliance's leader.

Nicaraguan Human Rights Center leader Vilma Nuñez decried the trials as repressive acts, with outcomes already concluded.

"This looks like it will be preordained convictions of innocent people... These are not trials... These are repressive farces that the regime uses to issue convictions and continue to intimidate the people, Nuñez said.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Joshua Summers

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