Nicaragua revokes nationality of 135 exiled political prisoners

​​​​​​​By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - Nicaragua revoked the nationalities and confiscated properties of 135 former political prisoners on Tuesday who were freed and sent to Guatemala last week following mediation by the US.

The move was announced by a Managua court, which ordered the "loss of Nicaraguan nationality for 135 people convicted of criminal acts that threatened the sovereignty, independence and self-determination of the Nicaraguan people." The court also "ordered the confiscation of all the assets of the convicted individuals," according to the statement.

On Sept. 5, the US secured the release of the prisoners on humanitarian grounds, according to the White House.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the 135 were among thousands of Nicaraguans who were “unjustly detained political prisoners” by the government of President Daniel Ortega and thanked Guatemala for receiving them.

"Once in Guatemala, these individuals will be offered the opportunity to apply for legal ways to rebuild their lives in the United States or other countries," said Sullivan.

He said the political prisoners had been arrested because they were considered a threat to the “authoritarian rule” of Ortega and his vice president and wife, Rosario Murillo.

“The United States again calls on the Government of Nicaragua to immediately cease the arbitrary arrest and detention of its citizens for merely exercising their fundamental freedoms,” he added.

President Bernardo Arevalo confirmed that a plane carrying the former prisoners had landed early last Thursday in Guatemala.

Ortega expelled 316 critical politicians, journalists, intellectuals and activists from the country in 2023, and stripped them of their nationality and property after accusing them of treason. He has also attacked members of the Catholic Church and closed more than 5,000 NGOs.​​​​​​​