Presidential challengers arrested
Nicaragua's National Police arrested two more potential challengers to President Daniel Ortega, the third and fourth opposition pre-candidates for the November 7 elections detained in the past week.
Nicaragua's National Police arrested two more potential challengers to President Daniel Ortega, the third and fourth opposition pre-candidates for the November 7 elections detained in the past week.
Felix Maradiaga was arrested after being called to the attorney general's office to provide a statement.
He is being investigated for alleged crimes against the government.
Hiscampaignsaidthatpolice stopped him, his driver and his lawyer after they had left the attorney general's office.
Later, police announced the arrest of Juan Sebastian Chamorro, another pre-candidate and former director of the opposition coalition Civic Alliance.
He had received a notice to appear for an "interview" on Wednesday at the attorney general's office to give a statement about a case against the non-governmental group Nicaraguan Foundation for Social Development that he led until 2018.
Police said he was being investigated for similar alleged crimes as Mr Maradiaga.
Just before his arrest, Mr Maradiaga had said he was interrogated for four hours about his activities as the former director of a non-governmental group focused on economic research, whether he had ties to drug traffickers and if on his trips to the United States he had requested sanctions against Nicaragua.
He said he told them he had requested sanctions "not to punish the people, but rather government officials who have committed crimes against humanity".
Last week, authorities detained Cristiana Chamorro, a cousin of Juan Sebastian Chamorro, and Arturo Cruz Sequeira, a former ambassador to the US, who was arrested on Saturday under a controversial "treason" law passed in December.
On Monday, a judge ordered Mr Cruz to be held for three months while an investigation is carried out.
Mr Cruz was considered a contender for the nomination of the opposition Citizens for Liberty party in the November 7 elections.
Also approved in December was a change to the penal code extending the period of pre-detention to 90 days from 48 hours.
The arrest of Mr Cruz follows the detention last week of opposition figure Cristiana Chamorro, who is being held incommunicado at her home on allegations of money laundering.
Ms Chamorro remains under house arrest.
Vice president and first lady Rosario Murillo mentioned the investigations on Tuesday and described the subjects of the probes as "terrorists" and "criminals".
"They believe they'll be forever unpunished (but) justice arrives late, but it arrives in this Nicaragua that had been prospering and in reconciliation," she said.
"How much we would have done with what this mountain of thieves stole, not just thieves but also terrorists, criminals."
Mr Ortega is seeking a fourth consecutive term as president.
His government has been moving aggressively to clear the field of challengers.
Mr maradia ga was a pre-candidate for the opposition coalition Blue and White National Unity.