It was reported that the government led by Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, prohibited entry into the country of Karen Celebertti, the director of Miss Nicaragua, along with her daughter. This occurred after the success of Sheynnis Palacios Cornejo as Miss Universe 2023.
A former Miss Nicaragua finalist in 1991 and the representative of the Miss Universe franchise in the country since 2001, Celebertti was detained last Thursday at the Augusto C. Sandino International Airport in Managua, along with her daughter, as confirmed by sources close to the pageant organizer to EFE on Friday. According to EFE, she was promptly returned to Mexico.
The Directorate of Migration and Foreigners Affairs imposed the ban on their entry into the country, according to the digital platform Mosaico CSI, when they returned to Nicaragua after participating in activities related to the Miss Universe pageant.
Mosaico CSI reported that the Mexican airline Aeromexico did not inform them of this decision via email, a situation that has occurred to many Nicaraguans since April 2018 when demonstrations against the Ortega government erupted, as reported by the media outlet.
This incident raises significant questions about the freedom of movement and the state of democracy in Nicaragua. Is this a violation of an individual’s right to return to their own country after an international competition? Is this a move by the government to tighten its control over public opinion?
Over the past years, Ortega’s government has faced numerous opposition and protests from its citizens over issues of freedom of expression and other human rights concerns. This event may trigger more questions about his administration and how it deals with individuals attempting to express their opinions.
This is not just a matter of closing the door for Celebertti; it is a deeper issue concerning freedom and democracy. This incident could serve as an examination of the country’s situation under Ortega’s leadership and may lead to more opposition and calls for genuine freedom and democracy.
