Spain offers citizenship to 94 Nicaraguans

The Spanish government offered Spanish citizenship to 94 citizens of Nicaragua who have just been declared stateless by the judicial authorities of their country, including a human rights defender Vilma Nunez and writer and politician SErgio Ramirez.

Spanish Minister for Foreign affairs, European Union and cooperation, Jose Manuel Albareshe informed Ramírez himself about this offer, who in turn sent a letter to the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, as reported by the Ministry in an official statement this Friday.

This offer is added to the last one February 10 by the executive government of Pedro Sánchez for 222 people who were expelled from Nicaragua and stripped of their Nicaraguan citizenship.

The Spanish government’s proposal was extended “to any citizen of Nicaragua who may become stateless in the future due to the decisions” of Daniel Ortega’s executive branch.

On February 9, the Nicaraguan authorities expelled them NOW group of 222 political prisoners for “traitors of the homeland”, including seven people who tried to challenge Ortega for the presidency last year and five priests, who were disqualified for life from holding public or electoral office.

In addition, on the 15th, Nicaraguan authorities revoked the citizenship of another 94 Nicaraguans, including believers, diplomats, former government officials, human rights defenders, Sandinista dissidents, opponents, journalists, academics, students, businessmen and traders.

On its part, UN This “alarmed” the revocation of citizenship of dozens of people who criticized the Government Daniel Ortegathey requested respect for their human rights and said they were ready to help with the status of the expelled.

UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric expressed Secretary-General António Guterres’ “alarm” at the Nicaraguan government’s “decision to deprive 94 people of their political and civil rights” on Wednesday, as it had already done with 222 political prisoners freed and deported last week.

The UN invoked the right to citizenship enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and said “no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of that right”, condemning “persecution or reprisals against human rights defenders or critics” with the Government.