Ortega’s regime condemns family of political exile for “conspiracy” and “propagation of false news”.

For the first time under Daniel Ortega’s rule, family members have been sentenced for the simple fact of being relatives of a politically persecuted individual. On the 18th of January 2023, the wife, daughter, and son in law of Javier Álvarez, a Nicaraguan opposition, were found guilty of crimes of “conspiracy” and “propagation of false news” by the courts of Daniel Ortega and Rasario Murillo. The wife and daughter, Jeannine Horvilleur Cuadra, Ana Carolina Álvarez Horvilleur, were sentenced to eight years, whilst the son in law, Félix Roiz Sotomayor, was given a 10 year sentence.

Sentencing family members of the opposition and those in exile, is a new way for Ortega to continue the repression of the Sandinsta regime and a new tool to add onto previous repressive measures. Back in 2016, the Electoral Council with Ortega’s support removed opposition lawmakers. Later the Council banned opposition political parties from standing in the 2021 general elections which led to Ortega being voted for his fourth presidential term - an election that was widely criticsed for its crackdown on freedom of expression and the illegal detentions of the opposition. As highlighted by Human Rights Watch, 7 presidential candidates and 32 government critics were detained between May and October 2021. 

2021 didn’t only see a crackdown on government opposition, it also witnessed attacks on media freedom as well as on non-governmental organisations where 45 NGOs were forced to close. 

Looking at the future of Ortega’s rule in Nicaragua:

• It is inevitable that his repressive rule will continue and we are likely to see the Nicaraguan security forces targeting more families of the opposition. This will be a symbolic tool to deter further opposition among the population. 

• We will continue to see human rights violations in the country despite the calls of the international community to stop such violations. Even more innocent civilians will lose their civil liberties in the coming months.