Nicaragua: Government of Ortega releases Bishop Rolando Álvarez, sentenced to 26 years

The Nicaraguan Bishop Rolando Alvarezsentenced to more than 26 years in prison for “treason”, was released by the government headed by Daniel Ortega and is under the protection of the Episcopal Conference of Nicaraguaa diplomatic source informed EFE on Wednesday.

Alvarez, Bishop of the Diocese of Matagalpa and apostolic administrator of the diocese of esteliwas removed from National Penitentiary Systemthe maximum security prison in the country and known as “The model”, where he had been held since February 9 after refusing to be deported to USAand is under the protection of the Episcopate, said the source.

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His release, according to the source, was thanks to negotiations between the Nicaraguan government, The Vatican and the Episcopatewho are now discussing the fate of the high hierarch.

In the talks is the possibility that Bishop Álvarez be sent to Rome or into exile, or be returned to prison in case of refusal, he indicated.

“Mgr Rolando Alvarez does not want to leave Nicaragua. He wants to be free, without conditions, in his country”, the Honduran bishop wrote on his social network Jose Antonio Canaleswho has followed up on the situation of his colleague.

Did Lula intervene?

The release of the Nicaraguan Catholic leader comes two weeks after the Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silvaannounced in Rome, after meeting with the Pope Franciscowho would try to convince Ortega to release Bishop Álvarez, sentenced to more than 26 years in prison after refusing to leave the country for USA.

Lula then explained that the only thing the Catholic Church in Nicaragua wants is for Bishop Álvarez to be released so that he can travel to Italy and described as “a mistake” de Ortega the imprisonment of the hierarch.

“I will talk to Ortega so that they can give him his freedom because it is necessary to learn to ask for forgiveness (…) and recognize this mistake”, said Lula then, who met with Pope Francis for 45 minutes in the Vatican.

The order of the Inter-American Court

The decision to release Bishop Álvarez was also made a week after the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IDH Court), based in Costa Ricaissued a resolution ordering Nicaragua to release the priest and that “adopt the necessary measures to effectively protect your life, health and personal integrity”.

In February 2023, the Ortega government released and expelled 222 political prisoners from the country, who were transferred to Washington on a plane chartered by the US government.

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Bishop Álvarez refused to leave the country, and as a consequence he was sentenced to more than 26 years in prison, stripped of his citizenship, and transferred from his house arrest to jail.

In addition, Ortega has declared bilateral relations with the Vatican interrupted and has described as a “mafia” to church.

Nicaragua has been experiencing a political and social crisis since April 2018 that worsened after the controversial November 2021 elections, in which Ortega was re-elected for a fifth term, fourth in a row and second with his wife, Rosario Murilloas vice president, with her main contenders in prison or in exile.

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.