Nicaraguan authorities release about forty political critics from prison

(Patria) - Nicaraguan authorities released about forty political critics from prison on Saturday, two Nicaraguan political activists told Reuters.

The released detainees will remain under house arrest and will report to the police regularly, they said.

Alfredo Gutierrez, coordinator of the Nicaragua Liberals party, based outside Nicaragua, said that activist Alejandro Hurtado, whom the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights reported was arrested in January, was among the several dozen released detainees.

Ana Margarita Vijil, from the opposition party Unamos, said her organization is aware of the release of "about forty people" and that many of them have not been seen by their families for months "or even years."