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Nicaragua strips citizenship from 94 political opponents

Published:Wednesday | February 15, 2023 | 9:46 PM
Nicaraguan writer Sergio Ramirez attends a meeting at Cervantes Institute's headquarters in Madrid, Spain, September 13, 2021. The Nicaraguan government on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, declared 94 opponents and critics "traitors to the homeland", among them Ramirez and fellow author Gioconda Belli, who were stripped of their nationality and confiscation of their properties. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Nicaragua cancelled the citizenship of 94 political opponents Wednesday, including writers Sergio Ramírez and Gioconda Belli.

Appeals Court Justice Ernesto Rodríguez Mejía read a statement that declared the 94 people to be “traitors” and said they had lost their Nicaraguan citizenship.

Mejía said their properties would be confiscated.

He said those on the list — among them rights activist Vilma Núñez, former Sandinista rebel commander Luis Carrión and journalist Carlos Fernando Chamorro — were guilty of “spreading false news” and “conspiracy to undermine national integrity.”

It was not clear what law the declaration was based on. Nicaragua's congress has not yet fully approved a bill that would allow the government to strip people of their citizenship.

Most of those named have fled Nicaragua since President Daniel Ortega began arresting opponents two years ago, and Mejía said they had been declared “fugitives.”

There was no mention of what might happen to those named who are still in Nicaragua.

The move comes days after Ortega packed off 222 imprisoned political leaders, priests, students, activists and other dissidents on a flight to the United States.

Shortly after, Ortega's government voted to strip the expelled former prisoners of Nicaraguan citizenship.

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