A Nicaraguan pastor has been released from prison, along with five friends and family members, after being held for six months in incommunicado detention.
Rudy Palacios Vargas, the founder of La Roca de Nicaragua Church Association, was detained in July with his sister, two brothers-in-law, a church worship team member, and a family friend.
Their detention in Granada Department has been described as an “enforced disappearance” by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), as the group was arrested without warrants and their family members were not told of their whereabouts during their detention.
Armed police officers and ‘volunteer’ staff wearing masks forced their way into the home of Pastor Palacios Vargas, his sister Jéssica Palacios Vargas, and his brothers-in-law Pedro José López and Armando José Bermudez Mojica.
Mauricio Alonso Petri, a political activist and friend of the pastor, died in detention in August after being arrested with his adult son and worship team member Mauricio Alonso Estrada.
Family friend Olga María Lara Rojas, a former political councillor who is a Christian, was also arrested at her home.
The five were among 20 political prisoners freed on Saturday, confirmed by human rights watchdog Mechanism for the Recognition of Political Prisoners.
Although Pastor Rudy Palacios, Jéssica Palacios, and Armando Bermúdez have been released into house arrest, CSW believe they are being surveilled and their movements are restricted.
Olga Lara Rojas, Mauricio Alonso Estrada, and Pedro José López have been released under ‘precautionary measures,’ which require them to report to their local police stations on a regular basis.
Anna Lee Stangl, CSW director of advocacy, said: “While we are grateful that these individuals will be reunited with some of their loved ones after nearly six months in incommunicado detention, neither Pastor Rudy Palacios Vargas nor his friends and family members should be under house arrest or precautionary measures.
“Their release does not undo the injustice committed against them. We call on the government of Nicaragua to grant them their full freedom without condition.
“We call on the international community to maintain pressure on the Ortega-Murillo regime to ensure human rights are upheld and that their crimes do not go unpunished.”
Pastor Efrén Antonio Vílchez López, who is currently serving a 23-year prison sentence on false charges, was not among those released.
He has been imprisoned since May 2022, after condemning the government’s use of violence against protesters during demonstrations four years earlier.
CSW have reiterated calls for Nicaraguan authorities to release all remaining political prisoners, including Pastor Vílchez López.