Statement of the OAS general-secretariat on the situation of political prisoners in Nicaragua
MANAGUA, Nicaragua — The general secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS) continues to follow with extreme attention the situation in Nicaragua and its different aspects.
In this regard, on the morning of Wednesday, April 8, secretary-general Luis Almagro held a virtual meeting with mothers and relatives of political prisoners in the country.
The information received regarding the continued existence of political prisoners and their conditions of confinement are of ongoing concern to the general-secretariat.
For this reason, the OAS general-secretariat reiterates the call for the immediate release of all the political prisoners in the country.
Likewise, the denunciation of cases of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment obliges this general-secretariat to demand the Nicaraguan government immediately end such practices.
The holding of political prisoners and the deplorable conditions of confinement are aggravated by the current SARS-COV2 pandemic. That is why the general secretariat calls on the Nicaraguan State to adapt the conditions of inmates to the existing health risks.
In the same way, the general secretariat calls on the Nicaraguan government to cease harassment and retaliation by regular or irregular security forces toward the relatives of political prisoners.
The general secretariat will continue to advocate and work for the re-establishment of democracy and respect for human rights in the country and will continue its efforts along the lines established by Inter-American instruments, the OAS Charter, and the Inter-American Democratic Charter.
