The US and Guatemala governments announced on Thursday that Nicaragua has released 135 political prisoners on humanitarian grounds after months of negotiations between the US and Nicaragua. The US also facilitated the voluntary transfer of political prisoners from Nicaragua to Guatemala.

In a joint statement, the US and Guatemala clarified that the released political prisoners include human rights defenders, religious leaders and laypersons. The statement noted that both countries, along with US humanitarian partners, will temporarily provide the released prisoners with medical assistance, food and lodging to help them rebuild their lives. Additionally, the released prisoners will have the opportunity to apply for entry to the US or other states through lawful pathways while in Guatemala.

The US and Guatemala highlighted the significance of human rights and fundamental freedoms in their statement, writing:

The United States and Guatemala reaffirm the rights of all persons to enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the rights to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief and to freedom of experience, association, and peaceful assembly. We underscore that a threat to democracy anywhere is a threat to democracy everywhere. Everyone has the responsibility to protect those who defend democracy and human rights across the world. The United States and Guatemala will continue to stand in solidarity with the Nicaraguan people and all who peacefully seek to have their voices heard.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken further addressed the situation, stating that the released political prisoners had been unjustly detained by Nicaragua for exercising their fundamental rights to free expression, peaceful assembly and religion or belief. He wrote:

[Nicaraguan President] Daniel Ortega, [Nicaraguan Vice President] Rosario Murillo, and their associates continue to violate human rights, stifle legitimate dissent, jail opponents, seize their property, and prevent citizens from reentering their home country. We urge the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners … in Nicaragua. The Nicaraguan people want and deserve a restored democracy where all can exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms, free from fear of persecution or reprisal.

The US embassy in Guatemala also urged Nicaragua to immediately cease detaining citizens for exercising their fundamental freedoms and commended Guatemala for agreeing to host the released prisoners.

This release follows a similar event on February 9, 2023, when the US welcomed 222 released political prisoners from Nicaragua. The US Department of State heralded their arrival as a “constructive step towards addressing human rights abuses” in Nicaragua. A Biden administration official told the New York Times that officials for Ortega and US President Joe Biden negotiated the prisoners’ release.

A UN report released on Tuesday decried the deteriorating human rights situation in Nicaragua between June 15, 2023, and June 15 of this year. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) documented widespread rights violations, including cases of unfair trials, inhumane conditions and torture, all in breach of Nicaragua’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).