Mr. Felix Maradiaga (L) with Dr. Paul Angelo (R)

On March 21 Perry Center Director Dr. Paul Angelo received a visit from Nicaraguan alumnus Felix Maradiaga. Mr. Maradiaga was previously the Director of the Institute of Strategic Studies and Public Policies as well as Vice-Minister of Defense during the government of President Enrique Bolaños. He was unfairly detained by the Ortega regime and held in prison for more than 600 days before being released in February 2023 and taken to the United States thanks to negotiations undertaken by the US Department of State. Mr. Maradiaga remains in the United States under a humanitarian visa and is dedicated to promoting democracy and the rule of law among the next generation of Nicaraguan leaders in order to be prepared for the return to democracy. We look forward to partnering with him in the near future.