NICARAGUA: OVER A DOZEN PEOPLE DEPRIVED OF THEIR LIBERTY FOR PARTICIPATING IN PROTESTS THAT BEGAN IN 2018 HAVE SYMPTOMS CONSISTENT WITH COVID-19

The Nicaraguan authorities must also take steps to guarantee the health of all the other people deprived of their liberty and ensure access to water, sanitation and hygiene products for the entire prison population

In light of local organizations and the families of people who are being deprived of their liberty in Nicaragua’s national prison system simply for exercising their right to protest repeatedly complaining that they are showing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas director at Amnesty International, said:

“The possible contagion of COVID-19 among people who remain in detention simply for opposing the repressive policies of Daniel Ortega’s government adds insult to the injury they endure on a daily basis as a result of being unjustly detained. More than a dozen of them have presented symptoms that could be related to the virus as they remain in precarious, overcrowded conditions without receiving adequate medical attention.”

“Some of the detainees have serious preexisting medical conditions that make them particularly vulnerable to the virus. It is unacceptable that the government fails to meet its obligation of guaranteeing their right to health. The international community must remain vigilant about this situation. All those who remain in detention solely for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly must be released immediately.”

“The Nicaraguan authorities must also take steps to guarantee the health of all the other people deprived of their liberty and ensure access to water, sanitation and hygiene products for the entire prison population.”