Nicaragua retains third presidential presidency as criticism grows Human Rights News

Another potential challenge to Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has been arrested, sparking criticism from the US diplomat.

Nicaraguan authorities have arrested a potential third presidential candidate in the deepest crackdown by President Daniel Ortega ahead of this year’s election.

Felix Maradiaga, 44, was on Tuesday after appearing in the public prosecutor’s office while prosecutors are being investigated for alleged actions against sovereignty, terrorism and protection. international sanctions against the government.

Maradiaga is the head of the White and Blue Alliance, a group that was formed in 2018 after numerous protests against Ortega’s rule. That year he testified at the UN Security Council about government repression.

Last week, two other opposition politicians who were planning to run against Ortega were arrested.

Christian Chamorro the house was arrested on charges of money laundering by the government, meanwhile Arturo Cruz Prosecutors arrested him on remand to investigate allegations of “provocation … and conspiracy to harm the nation as a whole.”

According to police, Maradiaga is being “investigated for actions that undermine independence, sovereignty and self-determination, for encouraging foreign intervention in internal affairs, and for conducting military interventions.”

Police added that he was accused of using “funding from foreign powers to carry out acts of terrorism and destabilization.”

These would probably make the allegations against Maradiaga one of the most serious allegations against Ortega’s challenges.

The allegations are linked to a law passed by lawmakers in December, dominated by Ortega’s allies, and lawmakers said they wanted to defend Nicaragua’s “sovereignty” from foreign influence.

Critics said it is targeted avoiding opposition politicians from running for election.

Backed by the left-wing Ortega, it prohibits “those who ask, celebrate and applaud the imposition of sanctions on the Nicaraguan state.”

Ortega, a former rebel fighter who ruled from 1979 to 1990, returned to power in 2007 and won two consecutive elections.

But the opposition, non-governmental organizations and the United States have accused him of harshly removing authoritarian authority and demonstrations.

Both the European Union and the United States have imposed sanctions on Ortega and his government.

“The arbitrary arrest of presidential candidate Felix Maradiaga … Ortega should resolve any remaining doubts about his credentials as a dictator,” he said Julia Chung, senior US diplomat for Latin America.

“He has no choice but to treat the international community like him.”