What changed

B100317/2026

B100293/2026

European Parliament resolution on political prisoners in Nicaragua -– the cases of Carlos Brenes, Salvadora del Socorro Martínez Aburto and Brooklyn Rivera

(2026/2765(RSP))

– having regard to itsRule previous150 resolutionsof onits Nicaragua,Rules of Procedure,

having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. Whereas the UN Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua (GHREN) concluded that the Ortega-Murillo regime is committing crimes against humanity and has dismantled the separation of powers, notably through the 2025 constitutional reform abolishing political pluralism and removing the prohibition of torture;

whereas since the widespread crackdown on protests in 2018, the Ortega-Murillo regime in Nicaragua has intensified its systematic and arbitrary persecution of human rights defenders, opposition members and religious institutions; whereas over 80 percent of NGOs have been dissolved, and over 240 religious figures have been forced into exile, deported, or barred from their return to the country;

B. whereas Indigenous Miskitu leader Brooklyn Rivera died in state custody on 30 May 2026 after nearly 3 years of enforced disappearance; whereas the EU expressed concern over his death and called for a transparent investigation;

whereas on 30 May 2026 Brooklyn Rivera, long‑time representative of the indigenous Miskitu people, died in custody after almost three years imprisonment; whereas the authorities took 15 hours to confirm his death and refused to release his body to his family;

C. Whereas Carlos Ramón Brenes Sánchez was arbitrarily detained in 2018 for his participation in civic protests, subjected to torture and threats against his family, and released in 2019; Whereas Brenes and his partner Salvadora del Socorro Martínez Aburto, were again arbitrarily detained in August 2025; whereas as of June 2026 they remain victims of enforced disappearance, with no proof of life and official information on their whereabouts or conditions of detention;

whereas Carlos Ramón Brenes Sánchez and his wife Salvadora del Socorro Martínez Aburto were detained in August 2025 without warrants, held incommunicado for months, and later secretly sentenced to 15 years imprisonment on ‘treason’ charges; whereas at least 44 other individuals remain in arbitrary detention;

D. whereas the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) granted precautionary measures and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) also ordered provisional measures for them;

whereas Nicaraguan authorities continue to enforce severe restrictions of religious freedom, banning services in public spaces, subjecting ceremonies to surveillance, and criminalizing all expressions of faith;

E. Whereas the IACtHR documented that in 2018-2019 Brenes was held in solitary confinement without adequate medication despite suffering from insulin-dependent diabetes; whereas recent reports indicate deterioration of his health;

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F. Whereas since 2018 Nicaragua has closed around 80 % of civil society organisations and stripped at least 452 individuals of their nationality, leaving many stateless.

Strongly condemns the Ortega-Murillo regime’s widespread, systemic human rights violations against indigenous people, democratic opposition, civil society and its persecution of religious leaders, including through the manipulation of criminal law and the use of the justice system as a tool to criminalise the exercise of civil and political rights, as well as the freedom of religion and belief;

Strongly condemns the Ortega-Murillo regime’s systematic repression and crimes against humanity;

Expresses its grief atCondemns the death of Brooklynarbitrary Riveradetention and extendsdeath itsin condolencescustody toof hisBrooklyn familyRivera; anddemands hisa community;prompt, notesindependent, withimpartial concerninvestigation theinto circumstanceshis surroundingenforced Rivera’sdisappearance deathand whiledeath, in custody;line requestswith the authorities to conduct a thorough,Minnesota impartialProtocol, and transparent investigation into the eventsfull leadingaccountability tofor histhose death;responsible;

Strongly condemnsDeplores the arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance,reported and15-year secretsentence sentencingimposed ofon Carlos Ramón Brenes Sánchez and Salvadora del Socorro Martínez Aburto; calls on the Nicaraguan authorities to disclose without delay their whereabouts and health status and demands their immediate and unconditional releaseproof asof welllife, asdisclosure of all imprisonedtheir politicalwhereabouts, prisonersaccess andto religiousadequate leaders,medicine and for all legal proceedings against them totheir beimmediate annulled;release;

Condemns the abusive detention and the lack of trial guarantees and demands that Nicaragua guarantee due process, access to legal counsel, family contact, and medical care for all detainees;

Calls for the release of all political detainees and clarification of the whereabouts of all victims of enforced disappearance, including the six relatives of Brooklyn Rivera;

Urges the restoration of the rule of law and the legal status of all organisations, full respect for human rights, including freedom of expression, religion and belief and the rights of exiled individuals, including their safe return, as essential conditions for any prospect of meaningful dialogue;

Urges Nicaragua to implement the recommendations of the GHREN; calls on the EU and Member States to support its renewal and adequate resourcing;

Reiterates its call for the list of individuals and entities sanctioned by the EU to be expanded;

Calls on Nicaragua to guarantee the safety of human rights defenders who remain in Nicaragua; highlights the essential role played by civil society, human rights defenders and journalists in and outside of Nicaragua; reaffirms its solidarity with the Nicaraguan people and support for democracy, human rights and the rule of law;

Deplores Nicaragua’s bond with authoritarian regimes in Havana and Caracas, as well as political, and military strategic alignment with Russia and China;

Calls on the EU and its Member States to strengthen support for democratic actors and civil society in Nicaragua and in exile, and to support independent forensic investigations into Rivera’s death;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Government and Parliament of Nicaragua.

Urges the Council to expand sanctions against officials responsible for human rights violations;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, Commission, the VP/HR, the Member States and the Nicaraguan authorities.