{"id":191000,"date":"2026-06-17T13:09:54","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T19:09:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/confidencial.digital\/sin-categoria\/european-parliament-demands-accountability-for-crimes-against-humanity-committed-by-ortega-and-murillo-in-nicaragua\/"},"modified":"2026-06-19T07:59:51","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T13:59:51","slug":"european-parliament-demands-accountability-for-crimes-against-humanity-committed-by-ortega-and-murillo-in-nicaragua","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/confidencial.digital\/en\/english\/european-parliament-demands-accountability-for-crimes-against-humanity-committed-by-ortega-and-murillo-in-nicaragua\/","title":{"rendered":"European Parliament Demands \u201cAccountability\u201d for Crimes Against Humanity Committed by Ortega and Murillo in Nicaragua"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On June 18, 2026, the European Parliament approved by a show of hands a resolution calling for \u201caccountability\u201d for the violations committed by the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo in Nicaragua since 2018, which \u201cmay constitute crimes against humanity.\u201d In addition, lawmakers demanded the release of all political prisoners, an end to repression, and the suspension of the implementation of the Association Agreement with the country. <\/p>\n\n

The resolution, titled Political Prisoners in Nicaragua: The Cases of Carlos Brenes, Salvadora del Socorro Mart\u00ednez Aburto, and Brooklyn Rivera,<\/a><\/em> highlights the deepening human rights crisis in Nicaragua since 2018 and \u201cstrongly condemns the systematic repression by the Ortega-Murillo regime, arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, sham trials, exile, denationalization, confiscation, and crimes against humanity.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

The text, which merges seven separate motions, calls for compliance with the ruling of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and \u201csupports accountability efforts, including through universal jurisdiction and referral to the International Criminal Court.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

The lawmakers also agreed on increasing pressure on the Ortega-Murillo regime through additional \u201ctargeted sanctions\u201d against those responsible for the repression so that they may be held accountable before international justice. <\/p>\n\n

Through the resolution, they called for greater support for \u201cdemocratic actors\u201d and civil society both inside Nicaragua and in exile and requested that \u201cno multilateral or European Union funds strengthen the regime.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

Demand for the Release of Political Prisoners <\/h2>\n\n

Members of the European Parliament demanded the \u201cimmediate and unconditional release\u201d of Carlos Brenes<\/a> and his wife, <\/a>Salvadora Martinez,<\/a> who were detained in August 2025, as well as the release of all political prisoners. They also demanded information about their whereabouts and health conditions. <\/p>\n\n

Brenes and Mart\u00ednez are being held under a \u201cregime of incommunicado detention\u201d and were sentenced without due process guarantees to 15 years in prison for \u201ctreason.<\/a>\u201d According to family members, the former military officer suffers from diabetes and has been denied medication. <\/p>\n\n

\u201cThe resolution further demands the immediate and unconditional release of Brenes, Mart\u00ednez, and all political prisoners, the annulment of politically motivated convictions, information on their fate and whereabouts, and immediate proof that they are still alive.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

During the debate preceding the resolution on June 17, 2026, MEP Elena Nevado del Campo of the European People\u2019s Party (EPP) stated that \u201cEurope should not tolerate the regime\u2019s systematic repression and the dismantling of the rule of law.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

\u201cWe must decide whether we stand with those who oppress or with those who fight for their freedom. We must stand with the victims,\u201d Nevado del Campo said. <\/p>\n\n

\u201cThe case of Carlos Brenes, Salvadora Mart\u00ednez, and the tragic death in prison of Indigenous leader Brooklyn Rivera<\/a> are recent examples of this cruel repression,\u201d said MEP Francisco Jose Millan Mon, also of the EPP, who accused the European External Action Service of limiting itself to \u201ctepid statements\u201d in the face of the deterioration of human rights in the country.<\/p>\n\n

The parliamentarians used these three cases to highlight the situation of people imprisoned for political reasons in Nicaragua. <\/p>\n\n

They agreed that the state of fundamental freedoms in Nicaragua remains \u201cdeeply concerning and unacceptable.\u201d Civic space has been restricted, and critical voices in the country are being threatened. <\/p>\n\n

Condemnation of Brooklyn Rivera\u2019s Death in Custody<\/h2>\n\n

The lawmakers also demanded a \u201cswift investigation\u201d into the death of indigenous leader Brooklyn Rivera, the \u201creturn of his remains, the release of disappeared family members, and accountability.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

Rivera was held under forced disappearance for more than two years before dying in State custody. \u201cThe death of Brooklyn Rivera in prison is a striking example of this reality. A broad, thorough, and independent investigation is necessary,\u201d they stated during the debate. <\/p>\n\n

According to the resolution, the Ortega-Murillo regime has \u201cdismantled democratic institutions and the rule of law through constitutional reforms that eliminate political pluralism while persecuting opposition figures, journalists, clergy, Indigenous leaders, human rights defenders, and civil society.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

The approved resolution also calls for: <\/p>\n\n