president daniel ortega

Bishop Rolando Álvarez and the other clergy were jailed more than a year ago, in most cases, as part of a crackdown on the opposition and Catholic Church by President Daniel Ortega.

President Daniel Ortega intensifies his political crackdown, stripping 94 of the most prominent Nicaraguan writers, journalists and human rights activists of citizenship. They lose all their rights.

Catholic Bishop Rolando Alvarez refused to leave Nicaragua with other political prisoners released on Thursday.

On state television a judge said the government had decided to "deport" the prisoners, saying they had been declared traitors and can never again serve public office.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega is running for a fourth consecutive term to remain leader of the Central American country in elections that critics and U.S. officials have labeled a "sham."