Félix Maradiaga

Félix Maradiaga is a Nicaraguan activist, political figure, academic, and outspoken critic of President Daniel Ortega and his regime. On February 28, 2021, Félix announced his candidacy for the Presidency of Nicaragua as the candidate of the Blue and White National Unity Movement, to face Daniel Ortega in the general presidential election in November 2021. He was arrested in June 2021 as part of President Ortega’s unprecedented crackdown on the democratic opposition, civil society, and the media. For 84 days, he was disappeared and held incommunicado. On February 24, 2022, after a trial replete with due process violations, he was convicted of “conspiracy to undermine national integrity”; a few days later, he was sentenced to 13 years in prison. On February 9, 2023, Félix was released to the United States with over 200 other Nicaraguan political prisoners.