Nicaraguan authorities have detained at least five more opposition leaders, as a sweeping crackdown by President Daniel Ortega’s government in advance of November elections has drawn rebuke from the European Union’s top diplomat.
In a statement on Tuesday, police said they detained three farmworker leaders – Medardo Mairena, who planned a presidential bid, Pedro Mena, and Freddy Navas – on Monday, accusing them of murdering and kidnapping police officers and civilians, armed robbery and extortion, among other crimes.
More opposition leaders detained in Nicaragua crackdown | Politics News | Al Jazeera
![A man stands next to a photo of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega on a wall promoting his candidacy for the upcoming November 7 election, in Managua on June 30 [Stringer/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2021-07-06T172013Z_22471551_RC2ZAO9UWVNQ_RTRMADP_3_NICARAGUA-POLITICS.jpg?resize=770%2C513)
A man stands next to a photo of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega on a wall promoting his candidacy for the upcoming November 7 election, in Managua on June 30 [Stringer/Reuters]