Managua, Nicaragua (AP) —The US State Department said on Friday that it had lifted visa restrictions on 50 close relatives of Nicaragua officials who were involved in or benefited from the growing repression of President Daniel Ortega.

Officials include lawmakers, prosecutors, and judges. Over the past two months, the Ortega administration has arrested about 30 opponents, including seven potential challengers in the presidential election.

Nicaragua will hold a national election on November 7. Ortega is seeking a term for four consecutive terms, and this week the government has put the opposition vice presidential candidate under house arrest.

“Ortega and (Vice President and First Lady Rosario) Murillo are afraid to play against anyone who feels they could win the support of the Nicaraguan people,” the U.S. Department of State said in a statement. I showed it. “

Among those arrested in recent weeks was former Nicaragua Foreign Minister Francisco Aguirre Sakasa. A 76-year-old boy was arrested after the border guard prevented him from leaving Nicaragua and entering Costa Rica. He was planning to fly to Houston for back surgery, two of his children said on Friday.

The family has not received any information about his whereabouts or condition since his arrest on July 27.

“We don’t have any details or information. We don’t know anything at all,” said Roberto Aguirre Sakasa, one of the sons of a former diplomat.

“The lawyer says he can’t do anything because the case doesn’t exist,” said George Aguile Sakasa, the daughter of a former diplomat.

They said their mother visited a prison in Managua known as El Chipote every day. I suspect he is there, but his name is not on the list of prisoners. She drinks food, water and medicine, but guards may drink water without checking if he is there.

Agile Sakasa was arrested by police on the highway back to Managua from the Costa Rican border where security guards confiscated their passports. When his wife arrived at their house, she found police looking for it. They confiscated computers and documents from Agile Sakasa’s home office.

Nicaraguan officials have issued a statement that he will be detained for 90 days after his arrest as an investigation into allegations that he committed a crime against Nicaraguan society proceeded.

“They say they obey the law, but if that’s true he’ll be on the list of prisoners, he could talk to us, they could visit him.” Said George Aguile Sakasa. “But in Nicaragua, these human rights are not respected.”

The state ministry’s announcement of visa sanctions against 50 Nicaragua on Friday follows similar actions taken against 100 others on July 12. , Peaceful protests or suppression of human rights abuse, and direct families of such people. “

The Nicaraguan government did not immediately comment on the new restrictions. In the past, Ortega and Murillo have argued that the widespread protests that began in April 2018 were attempts at a coup with foreign support.

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Miami AP writer Gisela Salomon contributed to this report.