human rights defender
Lesther Alemán
Actions and Campaigns
Organization affiliation
- Alianza Universitaria Nicaragüense (AUN)
HRD's year of birth
1998
HRD's Gender
Man
Type of HRD
- Social and community leader
HRD's thematic area of engagement
- Civil and political rights
HRD's geographical origin
Urban
Current Status
Released
HRD's bio and work
(AI translated) Lesther Alemán is a Nicaraguan communicator and political leader who currently resides in exile in the United States. He is recognised worldwide for having directly confronted Daniel Ortega during the first national dialogue in 2018, demanding his resignation.
He is currently in exile and his human rights advocacy activities are focused on political resistance and international advocacy. He continues to serve as president and founder of the Nicaraguan University Alliance (AUN), from where he analyses and criticises the regime's policies, such as its attempts to control Nicaraguan youth.
He frequently participates in political analysis forums. Recently, he has commented on the impact of US foreign policy in the region and the situation of political prisoners who remain in Nicaragua, highlighting the repression in his country.
Detained since
Jul 5, 2021
Date of release
Feb 9, 2023
Charge(s)
- Subversion
Sentence
(AI translated) 13 years in prison
Latitude: 12.096942985994628
Longitude: -86.2812758311463
Geolocation of detention
Country or area of detention
Region of detention
- Americas: Latin America and the Caribbean
Location of detention - City/Town
Managua
Location of detention - Facility
Dirección de Auxilio Judicial «Evaristo Vásquez» conocido como el Nuevo Chipote
Allegations / reports of ill-treatment
(AI translated) He is not allowed to see sunlight and is subjected to intense and constant interrogations.
He suffers from constant pain in his right leg, which makes it difficult for him to walk and sleep, and he has not been allowed to see a doctor.
Recent case update / evolution
(AI translated) Exiled and stripped of his nationality and property.
On 7 February 2023, a court order was sent to the defence declaring him a traitor to the country and stripping him of his civil rights.
He was released from prison on 9 February 2023, exiled to the United States and stripped of his nationality.
Any other relevant documents
(AI translated) Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), Precautionary Measures No. 621-19https://www.oas.org/es/cidh/decisiones/pdf/2019/46-19mc621-19-ni.pdf
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), Precautionary Measures No. 472-18 https://www.oas.org/es/cidh/decisiones/pdf/2018/35-18mc472-18-ni.pdf
Provisional Measures granted by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on 22 November 2022 https://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/medidas/45personas_se_02.pdf
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