The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has warned that Nicaragua does not meet the conditions for the municipal elections to be held this Sunday to be «free and fair» since they will be held in a context of «repression against the political opposition».
In a communiqué released this Friday, the IACHR regretted the «lack of minimum necessary conditions» to hold «free, fair and competitive» elections since it has verified the «lack of an independent electoral system and the continuous violations of human rights».
Specifically, the Inter-American Commission has pointed out the existence of measures aimed at preventing the participation of opponents in the elections and the lack of reforms to the current Electoral Law as evidence of its lack of legitimacy.
In recent weeks, the Organization of American States (OAS) has also stated that it has observed a «resurgence of repression and persecution» against those opposed to the regime.
Therefore, the IACHR has called on the Government to «guarantee the separation and independence of public powers and reestablish democratic guarantees and liberties», as well as the release of the detainees.
Nearly 200 opponents have been imprisoned in Nicaragua since the 2018 demonstrations that the president, Daniel Ortega, linked to an alleged failed coup d’état encouraged by the United States, according to ‘Infobae’.
