UN Report Finds Nicaraguan Government Responsible for Deaths in Custody

A comprehensive report published by United Nations human rights experts stated that the Nicaraguan government is responsible for at least eight deaths in custody since 2018.

Deaths in Custody and Human Rights Violations

United Nations experts announced that at least eight people have lost their lives in custody since 2018, when the crackdown on the opposition and the dismantling of democratic institutions began in Nicaragua. Jan-Michael Simon, the head of the panel of experts, stated that a state permitting enforced disappearances and the death of individuals in custody fails to meet the minimum human rights standards necessary for credible democratic governance.

Death of Indigenous Leader Brooklyn Rivera

The report drew attention to contradictions in government statements regarding the death of indigenous Miskito leader Brooklyn Rivera, who died in May after being imprisoned for 32 months with almost no contact with his family. While the government statement attributed the death to a past COVID-19 infection, the International Organization of Physicians reported that this explanation was medically inconsistent and that infections could have been contracted in custody or at a hospital.

Missing Persons Cases and Government Stance

Experts documented that at least 161 people have disappeared since 2018 and called on the government to provide information on 29 individuals whose whereabouts are unknown, as well as to release all those detained on political grounds. When asked for comment on the allegations, the Nicaraguan government refused to respond and merely sent an email statement thanking them for their interest.