Former Nicaragua guerrilla who helped free Daniel Ortega dies in jail

A former Sandinista guerrilla who once led a raid that helped free Daniel Ortega from prison has died, eight months after the now-president jailed him and dozens of other Nicaraguan opposition leaders.

Torres, a leading commander of the 1970s Sandinista revolution, had broken with Ortega more than 20 years ago to found the Sandinista Renovation Movement and was one of 46 opposition figures and presidential hopefuls jailed by Ortega last year to clear the way for his almost unopposed re-election in November.

He has not relinquished power since then, and his rule has become increasingly harsh, crushing any demonstration or opposition with police and soldiers.

Relatives of jailed opposition activists have said prisoners have been subjected to isolation, constant interrogations and insufficient food, affecting their health.

The families complained they were not allowed to bring the prisoners blankets and said some were kept in cells with lights on 24 hours a day, while others were kept in darkness. They said most of the cells were small, with concrete bed slabs covered by worn-out mattresses.

A string of recent trials of opposition figures has been carried out in the infamous Chipote prison. The defendants have been permitted to have only their lawyers present. All the trials so far have resulted in convictions and sentences of 13 to 15 years.

Thousands have fled into exile since Nicaraguan security forces violently put down anti-government protests in 2018. Ortega says the protests were an attempted coup with foreign backing, and many of those on trial have been accused of working with foreign powers for his overthrow or encouraging foreign nations to apply sanctions on members of his family and government.