Nicaragua’s government said it let some people out of prison. Many people think this is because of pressure from other countries. The United States is one of these countries. A group that watches human rights said nineteen people were freed. This happened after the U.S. took action against Venezuela.
The government did not give many details. They said "tens of people" were allowed to go home. President Daniel Ortega's government has been criticized for its human rights. It has also been criticized for stopping people who disagree with it. The United States has asked for these political prisoners to be freed. They also want more freedom for people in Nicaragua.
Some groups in Nicaragua believe this is a political move. They think the timing is important. The U.S. recently took a strong position against Venezuela's president. This may be Nicaragua's way to avoid more criticism. It could also help them avoid punishments. The U.S. Embassy in Nicaragua has asked for opposition leaders to be freed.
The U.S. Embassy said that many people are still in prison. They said over sixty people are held unfairly. This includes religious workers and older people. They also said, "Peace is only possible with freedom!" This shows that many people are still worried. The nineteen freed people are a start. However, many more may still be held without a fair trial.
The Nicaraguan government said the releases celebrate nineteen years of President Ortega's rule. This tries to make the action seem important inside the country. However, most people outside Nicaragua think it is because of pressure from the U.S. We will see how these releases change things in Nicaragua. They will also affect how Nicaragua works with other countries.