Nicaragua: Ortega government says Dom Rolando Álvarez is “fine” after medical examination

The Nicaraguan government assured that it carried out a medical examination of the imprisoned Catholic bishop Rolando Álvareza critic of the president Daniel Ortega sentenced to 26 years in prison and whose release was requested U.S this Tuesday amid a wave of arrests of priests in Nicaragua.

“The doctor reported that the patient’s vital signs and health status Rolando Álvarez they are fine. No blood test was performed because he had eaten food“, said the authorities in a statement published in the official media.

LOOK HERE: The United States demands that Daniel Ortega “immediately” release Dom Rolando Álvarez

The government explained that “carried out a medical examination” to Monsignor Álvarez with the doctor Yesser Rizoin the presence of the General Commissioners of Police, Zhukov Serrano It is Luis Barrantes.

“During medical care, Rolando Álvarez Lagos expressed that he feels well and continues to exercise“added the text.

The government portal El 19 Digital also published a photograph of the bishop with a doctor around a table.

Álvarez, 57, was sentenced on February 10 to 26 years in prison for treason, spreading false news and contempt, among other charges, a day after refusing to leave U.S along with 222 opponents arrested and expelled from the country.

US calls for release

The United States Department of State asked the president of Nicaragua the release of Álvarez, who said he was detained for 500 days in the middle of an operation against Catholic priests.

In a statement, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller accused Ortega and his wife and vice president Rosario Murillo of having “unjustly imprisoned Bishop Rolando Álvarez for 500 days” and called for his immediate release.

“During this period, Nicaraguan authorities kept Monsignor Álvarez isolated, prevented an independent assessment of the conditions of his imprisonment, and released staged videos and photographs that raise concerns about his well-being.” he added.

MORE INFORMATION: Nicaragua returns Dom Rolando Álvarez to prison after refusing to be exiled

“Once again, we call on the government of Nicaragua to immediately and unconditionally release Dom Rolando Álvarez.”Miller specifies.

“He and all those unjustly detained deserve to be released immediately and unconditionally.“, insisted this Tuesday the head of US diplomacy for Latin America, Brian Nicholson social network X.

In November, the Nicaraguan government assured that it complied with the “medical care protocols” for the imprisoned bishop and that Álvarez’s confinement conditions were “preferential”.

Álvarez preferred prison to exile and was not among the 12 priests released in October and sent to Rome following an agreement with the Vatican.

Prisons are worrying

Monday, after the traditional Angelus prayer in Saint Peter’s Square of the Vatican, the Pope Francis He said he continues “with deep concern what is happening in Nicaragua, where bishops and priests have been deprived of their freedom”.

The relationship between the Church and the government deteriorated after Ortega accused priests of supporting the 2018 anti-government protests, which he considered an attempted coup d’état promoted by washington and which were agreed, in accordance with the UNwith more than 300 dead.

The situation has worsened since Christmas and the end of the year for the Church with at least 14 priests detained in Nicaragua, including another bishop, Isidoro Mora.

SEE TOO: Nicaragua: Ortega government frees Dom Rolando Álvarez, sentenced to 26 years

Neither President Ortega’s government nor the police have addressed reports of arrests.

Diplomatic relations between Managua and the Vatican were on the verge of rupture after the Pope, in March 2023, called on the Ortega government “rude dictatorship”.

According to the lawyer’s investigation Marta Molina, exiled in the United States, since 2018 there have been 740 attacks against the Church and 176 priests and nuns have been expelled, banned or prohibited from entering the country. Organizations linked to the Church were closed, including the Jesuit Central American University (UCA) of Managua.

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.