A court in Nicaragua has found seven critics of the government of President Daniel Ortega guilty of conspiracy in what human rights groups have denounced as a “political trial”. Among those convicted are three opposition leaders who had planned to run in the 2021 election. Dozens of government critics were detained in the run-up to the poll, in which Mr Ortega won a fifth term. The prosecution has asked for sentences ranging between eight and 13 years. Those convicted are: Juan Sebastián Chamorro, presidential hopeful

In a trial held at El Chipote prison behind closed doors, the judges found the seven guilty of “conspiracy to undermine [Nicaragua’s] national integrity”. The rights group Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights said the seven were innocent: “The regime convicted them of crimes they have not committed.” They are not the first to be convicted in a wave of trials against opponents of the Ortega government. Earlier this month, two of the most outspoken critics of the president – Dora Téllez and Lesther Alemán – were also found guilty of conspiracy in trials dismissed by rights groups as a “sham”. Less than two weeks ago, another jailed opposition leader, Hugo Torres, died while awaiting trial.(BBC)…[+]