They change prison for house arrest to 3 opponents of the Nicaraguan government

How are opponents judged in Nicaragua?

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(CNN Spanish) --

The former presidential candidate and former diplomat Arturo Cruz Sequeira, 68, the former foreign minister Francisco Aguirre Sacasa, 77, and the jurist and former liberal deputy José Benard Pallais, 68, will continue their judicial process under "detention home with police custody," as reported by the Nicaraguan Public Ministry through a press release, published early this Saturday.

The three opposition leaders face trial for alleged conspiracy to undermine national integrity.

The Public Ministry bases the request on humanitarian reasons, given the "knowledge of the state of health of the detained opponents."

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Pallais, detained by the police on June 9, 2021, and Cruz, arrested on June 5 of that year, had participated this Friday, along with five other prominent opponents in a fourth day of trial, in the case that they are being followed for allegedly actions against sovereignty, as reported by the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights, Cenidh.

Their lawyers had commented on the precarious health situation of both.

The trial against them continues on Monday, Cenidh reported.

On February 8, Aguirre was found guilty of the crime of conspiracy to undermine national integrity and was sentenced to 8 years in prison.

Aguirre was arrested on July 29 for alleged actions against sovereignty.

The opposition Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy through its Twitter account had warned this Thursday of the physical, emotional and mental deterioration of the opponents tried in these hearings.

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The trial against @Jschamorrog @jaguerrich @arturo_cruzs @VioletaG @maradiaga @TamaraDvila3 and José Pallais;

continues #17feb, after a second hearing where the physical, emotional and mental deterioration suffered by political prisoners was evidenced.

#Nicaragua #SOSNicaragua pic.twitter.com/jYVevQrgIf

– Nicaraguan Civic Alliance (@AlianzaCivicaNi) February 17, 2022

The change of precautionary measure for three opponents, occurs a few hours after 26 countries, in the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) demanded this Friday "the immediate release of political prisoners in Nicaragua."

The declaration, approved during an extraordinary session held virtually, also expressed that the signatories are "deeply dismayed" by the death of opposition leader and former Sandinista guerrilla and soldier Hugo Torres.

Torres died on Saturday, February 12 "due to illness" according to the Prosecutor's Office.

The Police had arrested him on June 13, 2021 to be investigated for alleged actions against sovereignty.

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The OAS stressed that Torres was detained "in inhuman conditions, like many other people imprisoned for their political opinions."

The Nicaraguan government rejected the call and the declaration alleging foreign interference and urging several countries to resolve their own complaints of human rights violations.

The Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights has warned of the precarious health situation of other opponents, older adults with health problems such as the former ambassador to the OAS, Edgar Parrales and the jurist Mauricio Díaz and the activist Violeta Granera.

For its part, the mechanism for the recognition of political prisoners reported that 20 opponents under the prison regime are over 60 years of age, several of them facing serious health problems.

Two opponents of conspiracy in Nicaragua are found guilty 0:55