Nicaragua’s government says it’s freeing detainees after pressure from the US

Nicaragua’s Interior Ministry has announced the release of dozens of prisoners. This comes as the United States increases pressure on the government led by President Daniel Ortega. On Friday, the U.S. Embassy in Nicaragua said Venezuela had released political prisoners, but lamented that over 60 people remain detained in Nicaragua. The Interior Ministry said Saturday that people from the National Penitentiary System are returning home. It’s unclear who was freed or under what conditions. The government has been cracking down since 2018, imprisoning and exiling critics.