The Diplomat
Some 70 of the Nicaraguan opponents who have been deprived of their nationality by Daniel Ortega’s regime have already begun the procedures to obtain Spanish nationality following the offer made by the government, which is open to all those whom the Nicaraguan president can convert into stateless persons.
On 9 February, the regime released 222 political prisoners who were deported to the United States and deprived of their nationality, after accusing them of “treason”. On 16 February, Ortega decreed the withdrawal of the nationality of 94 other opponents, including the writer Sergio Ramirez, who lives in Spain, on the same grounds, and ordered the seizure of their assets.
“The same day we learned of the infamous sentence of statelessness, we offered Spanish nationality”, recalled the sources consulted, stressing that when the case of the other 94 became known, the offer was extended both to them and to “any other Nicaraguan who might be affected by the Nicaraguan president’s decision”.
Since then, some 70 of the 222 opposition members exiled in the United States have applied for Spanish nationality, diplomatic sources told Europa Press, stressing that it is a “totally voluntary act”. The humanitarian reception offered by the United States to this group entitles them to at least two years’ residence.
The sources stressed that “it is not necessary to come to live in Spain to acquire Spanish nationality”. However, they pointed out that, should any of them wish to do so, “the government will try to help these people as far as possible”.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, EU and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, has at all times been very critical of the actions of Ortega, whose re-election in November 2021 Spain and the rest of the EU have not recognised.
After the deportation of more than 200 opponents to the United States, Albares made it clear that “Spain is their home, as it is for all those who defend freedom and democracy” at an event attended by Sergio Ramírez, former vice-president of Nicaragua and now persecuted.
Precisely, this Thursday he met with the writer, winner of the 2017 Cervantes Prize and who already has Spanish nationality, and spoke with him again “about the offer of Spanish nationality to Nicaraguans stripped of theirs”.
