Nicaragua: Bishop in court critical of the government

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Rolando Álvarez, Bishop of the Diocese of Matagalpa

PHOTO: MAYNOR VALENZUELA/ REUTERS

Bishop Rolando Álvarez, who is critical of the government, is on trial in Nicaragua.

At Tuesday's hearing, a judge said the 56-year-old must face charges of conspiracy to undermine national integrity and spread false news.

Álvarez was arrested at his residence five months ago.

Officials had previously surrounded the house for more than two weeks.

The bishop and several staff members were prevented from leaving the residence, leading Álvarez to protest in the streets in August and chanted prayers for an end to the police siege.

According to local media, the Catholic bishop is currently under house arrest.

However, he was present at the hearing.

The originally from Managua clergyman was in 2011 by Benedict XVI.

appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Matagalpa.

Church in the government's sights

In the Central American country, the authoritarian government of ex-guerrilla Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, have been cracking down on critics for years.

Numerous opposition politicians, journalists critical of the government and activists are under arrest or have gone into exile.

More than 350 people were killed in anti-government protests in 2018.

Members of the Catholic Church are also repeatedly targeted by the government.

Last year, seven priests and two staff members were arrested in the Diocese of Matagalpa and nine Catholic radio stations were shut down.

In addition, the apostolic nuncio Waldemar Stanislaw Sommertag was expelled from the country, as were 18 nuns from the order of the Missionaries of Charity founded by Mother Teresa.

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