On February 15, the Nicaraguan government stripped 94 democracy advocates of their citizenship. They include prominent civil society activists, journalists, and political dissidents such as Carlos Fernando Chamorro, Gioconda Belli, and the World Movement’s Steering Committee Member Sofía Montenegro.

We, the Steering Committee of the World Movement for Democracy, condemn President Daniel Ortega’s weaponization of citizenship and stand in solidarity with the people of Nicaragua who continue advocating for freedom and democracy under an authoritarian regime. This outrageous development comes days after Ortega’s regime released 222 political prisoners and expelled them to the US, also stripping them of their citizenship. Ortega’s arbitrary decision to strip political dissidents of their citizenship rights violates Article 2 and Article 15 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Out of the 94 people who were deprived of their Nicaraguan citizenship, many were already living in exile. For them, Ortega’s decision will also limit their freedom of movement and ability to access immigration relief mechanisms and services.

We commend democratic governments, such as the United States and Spain, which have been providing critical support to the released 222 political prisoners. We call on the international community to:

• Join us in condemning Daniel Ortega’s aggression against democracy advocates;
• Call for the release of the 35 political prisoners who remain incarcerated in Nicaragua; and,
• Facilitate access to immigration relief mechanisms for the Nicaraguan democracy advocates who have been stripped of their citizenship.