What changed

B100128/2025

P10_TA(2025)0017

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the repressionRepression by the Ortega-Murillo regime in Nicaragua, targeting human rights defenders, political opponents and religious communities in particular

(2025/2547(RSP))

PE769.700

European Parliament resolution of 13 February 2025 on repression by the Ortega-Murillo regime in Nicaragua, targeting human rights defenders, political opponents and religious communities in particular (2025/2547(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Rule 150 of its Rulesprevious ofresolutions Procedure,on Nicaragua,

A. whereas the National Assembly approved a constitutional reform establishing a co-presidency, eliminating all guarantees of separation of powers and political pluralism, eliminating the right to strike, the explicit prohibition of torture and weakening essential procedural guarantees;

– having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

B. whereas the ongoing deterioration of fundamental rights takes place in a context of an increasingly repressive regulatory framework, systematic persecution, criminalization, harassment, police hounding and acts of repression; whereas attacks on freedom of expression, conscience and religion have intensified;

A. whereas since 2018, the Nicaraguan regime has systematically, repeatedly and arbitrarily persecuted human rights defenders (HRDs), opposition and religious representatives, among others; whereas over 5 600 NGOs have been dissolved, including religious groups – mainly Catholic – and their assets confiscated;

C. whereas over 450 people have been deprived of Nicaraguan nationality;

B. whereas imprisoned political opponents, along with HRDs, have been expelled from the country, stripped of their nationality and deprived of their political rights; whereas since 2018, 245 members of the clergy have been arbitrarily arrested or expelled, including Bishop Rolando Álvarez, Sakharov Prize finalist;

D. whereas since April 2018, the Nicaraguan authorities have cancelled over 5,600 NGOs;

C. whereas in January 2025, the regime passed a constitutional reform that eliminates the separation of powers and political pluralism, establishing an Ortega-Murillo co-presidency that controls all branches of government, independent institutions and the media, and ignores adherence to international human rights conventions and treaties;

1. Is deeply concerned by the changes introduced by the constitutional reform which seriously impacts the guarantees of future free and fair elections; urges the authorities to review this reform in order to guarantee rule of law and the separation of the executive, legislative, electoral and judicial branches;

1. Strongly condemns the Ortega-Murillo regime’s widespread, systemic human rights violations against its population, democratic opposition, students, civil society organisations (CSOs) and its persecution of religious leaders, primarily Catholic; urges the immediate release of all those arbitrarily detained, and the restoration of the rule of law and the legal status of all organisations, freedoms and the rights of exiled individuals, including their safe return; insists that these are essential conditions for any prospect of meaningful dialogue;

2. Condemns the systematic repression against the opposition, indigenous people, students, NGOs and religious leaders; condemns the use of the criminal law to persecute opponents, to suppress any criticism or opposition; calls on the Nicaraguan authorities to cease politically motivated persecution, criminalization, arbitrary detention;

2. Denounces the use of statelessness and exile as a weapon against dissenting voices; reiterates the need to end restrictions on civic space and to respect the right to dissent;

3. Condemns the provisions institutionalizing the state's power to strip citizens' nationality for the broadly defined crime of treason; condemns the arbitrary deprivation of Nicaraguan citizenship for at least 450 individuals; urges the Nicaraguan authorities to ensure full access to and enjoyment of the right to nationality to all, and to take measures to prevent and eradicate statelessness; urges the Nicaraguan authorities to guarantee family reunification, facilitating the issue and validity of basic official documentation in order for those affected by the violations to be able to exercise citizenship rights;

3. Calls on the Ortega-Murillo regime to reverse its constitutional reform and all repressive laws institutionalising totalitarianism, to fully respect its international human rights obligations, and to implement the recommendations made by the UN Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua; calls for its mandate to be extended;

4. Calls for the immediate release of the 45 remaining political prisoners;

4. Calls for the EU to include specific guarantees of human rights compliance when allocating EU funds, including through multilateral and financial institutions, and to ensure that the funds do not contribute to strengthening the Ortega-Murillo regime;

5. Supports the renewal of the Human Rights Council’s Group of Expert on Nicaragua;

5. Highlights the key role played by CSOs, HRDs, the Catholic Church and journalists in Nicaragua; calls for the EU to reinforce its regular dialogue with them, including those in exile, to support their vital work, as well as countries receiving migrants fleeing Nicaragua, such as Costa Rica;

6. Calls on the Nicaraguan authorities to guarantee the life and integrity of human rights defenders who remain in Nicaragua; highlights the key role played by civil society, human rights defenders, journalists and religious leaders in Nicaragua; calls on the EU to increase support for those still in the country and currently in exile;

6. Calls on the Member States, in accordance with the Rome Statute, to open investigations through the International Criminal Court into the Ortega-Murillo regime for crimes against humanity;

7. Is particularly worried by the impact of the US aid freeze on programs and NGOs in Nicaragua;

7. Reiterates its demand that the democratic clause of the EU Association Agreement be triggered; rejects any prospect of holding any parliamentary dialogue with members of Nicaragua’s regime-controlled National Assembly;

8. Urges the EU to hold the Nicaraguan authorities accountable including through Universal Jurisdiction cases, for repression in the country and to explore international mechanisms to hold Nicaraguan authorities accountable for violations of the 1961 convention on the reduction of statelessness and the 1984 convention against torture;

8. Reiterates its call to expand the list of sanctioned individuals to include Ortega, Rosario Murillo and their inner circle;

9. Supports the efforts of the EU Delegations to closely monitor developments that are taking place in Nicaragua, including trial monitoring and visiting political prisoners in prison or under house arrest;

9. Calls for the immediate extradition of Alessio Casimirri to Italy;

10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Member States, the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly,VP/HR, the Central AmericanMember ParliamentStates and the authorities of the Republic ofNicaraguan Nicaragua.authorities.