Authorities in Nicaragua have arrested at least 60 people for celebrating or expressing support for the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, human rights groups and local media reported Friday.
The detentions follow international outrage over Maduro’s capture by United States forces in Caracas and his subsequent transfer to New York to face drug and weapons charges, a move strongly backed by Nicaragua’s government.
According to Blue and White Monitoring, an NGO that tracks rights violations in Nicaragua, the arrests have been carried out without judicial orders and are based solely on “expressions of opinion” such as social media comments, private celebrations, or failure to echo official narratives.
Of those held, the group said 49 remain in detention with no information on their legal status, while nine have been released and three are being held temporarily.
“These arrests constitute a serious violation of human rights,” the organisation said, noting that the crackdown has occurred in at least eight departments, including Managua, Matagalpa, Chontales and Jinotega.
Local media reported that the wave of detentions followed a “state of alert” declared by Vice President Rosario Murillo, who — alongside President Daniel Ortega — has been a vocal ally of Maduro.
La Prensa and Confidencial, newspapers published outside Nicaragua due to press restrictions in the country, said people were detained for posting supportive messages about Maduro’s capture online or in private settings.
The actions have drawn international concern and highlighted broader restrictions on freedom of expression under the Ortega government.
AFP
