Nicaragua's government announced the release of dozens of political prisoners on January 10, marking the 19th anniversary of its rule, amid intense US pressures. This action follows Venezuela's example and responds to calls from the Trump administration for the release of opponents. Local organizations confirmed at least 30 releases, though doubts remain about the full freedom of those affected.
Nicaragua's regime under Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo released at least 30 political prisoners on Saturday, January 10, 2026, as confirmed by local outlet Divergentes. The government's official announcement framed the releases in the commemoration of its 19 years in power, emphasizing a 'commitment to encounter, peace, and the right to family and community coexistence'. The statement noted that 'dozens of people who remained under the custody of the pertinent authorities' have returned to their homes.
Among those confirmed released by EFE are opponents such as Jessica Palacios, Mauricio Alonso, Mario Rodríguez Serrano, Pedro López, María José Rojas, and Óscar Velásquez. The case of evangelical pastor Rudy Palacios stands out; detained since July 17, 2025, the US government had advocated for his release against accusations of being a 'criminal' and 'golpista' from Nicaragua's Attorney General's Office.
The Group for Reflection on Political Excarcerated (GREX) reported 19 releases, while the Mechanism for the Recognition of Political Prisoners in Nicaragua counted 20. Salvador Marenco from the Collective of Human Rights Nicaragua Never Again told EFE that these excarcerations must be 'full and free', without police check-ins or threats, and inevitably linked them to events in Venezuela, where political prisoners were freed after Nicolás Maduro's capture, an ally of Ortega.
The US Embassy in Managua had reminded the day before that more than 60 people remain 'unjustly detained or disappeared' in Nicaragua, citing Venezuela's 'important step' as an example. Donald Trump celebrated Venezuela's releases on Truth Social as a 'sign of seeking peace'. The Western Hemisphere Affairs Office of the US State Department criticized on X the 19 years of 'Murillo-Ortega dictatorship', stating that 'rewriting the Constitution and crushing dissent will not erase Nicaraguans' aspirations to live free from tyranny'.
