On the repression by the Ortega-Murillo regime in Nicaragua, targeting human rights defenders, political opponents and religious communities in particular

B100128/2025

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the 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 Rules of Procedure,

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;

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;

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

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

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;

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;

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;

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

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

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;

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

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;

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;

10.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Member States, the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly, the Central American Parliament and the authorities of the Republic of Nicaragua.