Medical Examination and U.S. State Department’s Concerns

Medical Care Details: The medical examination of Rolando Álvarez Lagos began at 3:25 p.m. and concluded at 3:40 p.m., as reported in an official statement.

The document included vital sign readings, revealing blood pressure at 120/60, heart rate at 84 beats per minute, oxygen saturation at 99%, and regularity in heartbeat at 88.

Álvarez’s Well-Being: During the medical care session, Rolando Álvarez Lagos conveyed his sense of well-being and mentioned ongoing exercise routines.

The attending doctor affirmed that Álvarez’s vital signs and overall health condition were satisfactory.

Notably, blood tests were not conducted due to the recent consumption of food, according to the dictatorship’s statement.

Visible Changes and Previous Media Appearance: Contrasting images were released, depicting the bishop appearing thinner than before.

The last public appearance was in November 2023, during the regime’s sharing of photographs from a previous medical examination.

U.S. State Department’s Call for Release: The official statement and images emerged shortly after the U.S. State Department reiterated its call for the immediate and unconditional release of Rolando Álvarez.

On January 2, the department’s spokesman, Matthew Miller, emphasized that Álvarez had been unjustly incarcerated for 500 days.

The statement expressed concern about Nicaraguan authorities keeping Álvarez in isolation, preventing independent evaluations of his imprisonment conditions, and releasing staged videos and photographs that raise further apprehensions about his well-being.

Wider Concerns for Religious Leaders: The State Department’s statement highlighted the unjust detention of various religious leaders in Nicaragua, including Bishop Isidoro Mora and several priests.

The plea underscored the broader issue of religious leaders facing imprisonment, emphasizing the need for their release and fair treatment.