Nicaragua: Human rights groups demand lawyer's release as opposition shifts strategy

Humanitarian organizations are demanding the immediate release of Nicaraguan opposition lawyer Thelma Montenegro. Montenegro, a human rights defender and member of the Madres de Abril Association, was reportedly detained arbitrarily in August after visiting a police station to renew her driver's license. Organizations such as the Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL) have denounced her detention and subsequent disappearance, noting that she has been a vocal critic of the Ortega-Murillo administration following the deaths of several family members.

Simultaneously, Nicaraguan right-wing opposition groups are shifting their political strategy to seek support from the United States. Following advice from sources linked to the Trump administration, these groups are working to distance themselves from leftist and progressive movements to build a transition platform that aligns with the ideological preferences of U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This move aims to secure direct backing from Washington by presenting a platform that avoids alliances with progressive sectors.