On Tuesday, Nicaragua’s National Police seemed to confirm that retired Gen. Humberto Ortega, the brother of President Daniel Ortega, has been under surveillance. This confirmation came after local media reports emerged two days prior, suggesting that police had surrounded his residence.

In a statement, the police mentioned that the Health Ministry had visited 77-year-old Humberto Ortega, who suffers from heart problems, at his home to assess his health. However, they did not provide any explanation for why he was under police observation.

According to local media, police appeared at his residence on Sunday, coinciding with the publication of a lengthy interview with Humberto Ortega by the online news outlet Infobae. In the interview, he discussed his occasionally strained relationship with his brother, which in recent times has involved more informal discussions.

He also characterized his brother’s current administration as “authoritarian, dictatorial,” suggesting that the transition of power within such a government after the leader’s demise poses significant challenges for continuity.

Daniel Ortega has tightened his control over the country since quelling street protests in 2018. Since then, hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguans have fled the country or been compelled into exile.