On political prisoners in Nicaragua: the cases of Carlos Brenes, Salvadora del Socorro Martinez Aburto and Brooklyn Rivera

B100313/2026

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

(2026/2765(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Rule 150 (5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Brooklyn Rivera, Nicaraguan indigenous Miskitu leader and politician, died on 30 May 2026, in government custody; whereas Rivera was arbitrarily detained and subsequently forcibly disappeared in September 2023 by members of Nicaragua’s National Police;

B. whereas retired Nicaraguan army colonel Carlos Brenes and his wife, Salvadora del Socorro Martinez Aburto, were sentenced to 15 years in prison for the alleged crime of “treason” on 1 April 2026; whereas Brenes and his wife were arbitrarily detained by the Nicaraguan authorities on 14 August 2025;

C. whereas other political prisoners are dying while in custody; whereas in August 2025, the UN reported three other deaths in custody that were linked to poor detention conditions and insufficient medical care;

D. whereas since 2018, the Nicaraguan regime has systematically persecuted political opponents; whereas the regime is financing the political repression of political opponents through misuse of public funds and is also targeting exiles through a transnational and surveillance network;

E. whereas the Nicaraguan government traffics migrants to systematically increase migration pressure on the US, for financial profit or to fuel remittance payments; whereas the regime has turned the country into a state sponsor and commercial hub for human smuggling;

Expresses its dismay at the death in custody of Brooklyn Rivera; calls for a prompt, effective, thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances of Rivera’s death; calls on the Nicaraguan government to clarify the whereabouts of Rivera’s six disappeared relatives;

Calls on the Nicaraguan government to ensure that Carlos Brenes, his wife and other political prisoners have access to independent legal counsel and adequate medical care and are protected against torture and ill-treatment;

Calls on the Nicaraguan government to end repression and release all individuals who have been arbitrarily arrested or detained for political reasons;

Is worried that the prisoners release that the Nicaraguan regime announced in January 2026 is only a tactical move rather than a shift in the government’s repressive policies as it has not led to full, effective liberty;

Calls on the EU to engage with the Nicaraguan authorities to end their systematic repression of political opponents and indigenous leaders;

Notes that more than a fifth of Nicaragua’s population has already left the country; notes that according to various surveys, more than half of Nicaragua’s population wants to emigrate; is concerned that the deterioration of the political and economic situation will only lead to further migration;

Strongly condemns the weaponisation of migration by the Ortega-Murillo regime; emphasises that migration is becoming a systemic geopolitical challenge;

Notes that the Nicaraguan government has been unresponsive to targeted sanctions imposed by the US, the EU and Canada;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the European External Action Service, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, and the Nicaraguan authorities.