Resolution on the situation in Nicaragua

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the situation in Nicaragua.

The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, S&D, Renew, Greens/EFA, ECR groups and Members.

As a reminder, since 2018, the Nicaraguan regime has systematically, repeatedly and arbitrarily incarcerated, harassed and intimidated presidential pre-candidates, opposition leaders and religious leaders, as well as student and rural leaders, indigenous people, LGBTI persons, journalists, human rights defenders, civil society organisations, business representatives and all other critical voices in the country. The situation in Nicaragua continues to deteriorate.

In 2023, the Ortega-Murillo regime deported 222 arbitrarily detained political prisoners to the United States, including political figures, pre-candidates in the 2021 presidential elections, journalists, human rights defenders and demonstrators in the 2018 protests. All of them were declared ‘traitors to the homeland’ and stripped of their nationality.

Several countries have offered nationality, citizenship or temporary protection to the Nicaraguan citizens made stateless by the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo. Spain has offered citizenship to the 222 exiles.

Moreover, since the illegal, unprovoked and unjustified Russian war of aggression against Ukraine began, the Ortega-Murillo regime has systematically supported the Russian regime in UN resolutions. Russia has supported Nicaragua with military equipment and continues to host a Russian military presence in the country. Parliament condemned the Nicaraguan regime’s unconditional support for Russia and expressed its concern over the Russian military assistance to further repress the Nicaraguan population.

The resolution strongly condemns the Nicaraguan regime’s widespread perpetration of systematic and deliberate human rights violations against its population for purely political reasons. It stressed that these violations amount to crimes against humanity. It called on the Nicaraguan government to:

- guarantee the life and integrity of human rights defenders who remain in Nicaragua;

- facilitate family reunification processes;

- uphold and respect human rights and to allow the Nicaraguan people to exercise their civil and political rights;

- allow international organisations and civil society organisations unrestricted access to the country;

- stop arbitrarily closing down non-governmental and civil society organisations.

The EU is called on to:

- support and actively engage in any prospect of meaningful national dialogue and to further insist on sine qua non conditions for dialogue, including the release of arbitrarily detained political prisoners, the restoration of the rule of law and freedoms, the cessation of repression and fear, the re-establishment of the legal status of the political parties and organisations that were arbitrarily outlawed, the return of exiles without exception and with full guarantees, the return of international human rights bodies to the country and the holding of free, fair and transparent elections;

- use all the tools at its disposal, including visas, to facilitate the mobility of human rights defenders and other persons at risk and ensure the continuity of their work;

The European External Action Service and the Commission is asked to:

- reinforce their regular dialogue with civil society, human rights and environmental activists, the Catholic Church and journalists, to strengthen mechanisms to support their vital work and to closely monitor the situation on the ground, including by monitoring trials and visiting opposition leaders and government critics in prison or under house arrest;

- increase support for members of the Nicaraguan opposition currently in exile, as well as to maintain their close collaboration with and support for countries receiving substantial numbers of migrants fleeing the Nicaraguan regime, in particular Costa Rica.

Regarding the judicial system, Parliament reiterated its call for judges and prosecutors to be swiftly included on the list of individuals sanctioned by the EU and for the list of sanctioned individuals and entities to be expanded to include Daniel Ortega and his inner circle.