A report submitted to the Human Rights Council has urged the government, led by President Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, to take action to guarantee the rights of all Nicaraguans, particularly those in exile, restore civic space, and ensure accountability.
Jan-Michael Simon, head of the Independent Group of Human Rights Experts, stated, “In Nicaragua, repression and institutional corruption have become the method of governance under the control of the Ortega-Murillo family.”
Simon added, “Political persecution is state-financed, executed through its institutions, and extends beyond borders to ensure no one stands in the regime’s way.”
‘Structural and Corruption-Fueled’ Repression
Based on dozens of interviews and extensive documentary evidence, the report details how public funds allocated for social assistance, cleanup projects, and operational expenses since 2018 have been diverted to finance violent security operations, including the crackdown on nationwide protests in 2018.
Reed Brody, a member of the group of experts appointed by the Human Rights Council, commented, “The misuse and diversion of public funds have directly contributed to the commission of serious human rights violations.”
Brody further explained, “The repression in Nicaragua is not incidental; it is structural and corruption-fueled.”
Cross-Border Repression
The report outlines an extensive cross-border surveillance and intelligence architecture used to monitor, intimidate, and attack hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguans living abroad.
The government has arbitrarily stripped 452 Nicaraguans of their nationality, forced thousands into exile by refusing to renew or provide essential documents, and prevented most from returning to Nicaragua.
Others have faced surveillance, harassment, smear campaigns, confiscation of property, and retaliatory actions against relatives in Nicaragua.
Brody told journalists at a Human Rights Council press briefing on Tuesday, “The co-presidents have built a mechanism that hunts opponents wherever they are… No one is outside the reach of this repressive regime.”
At least a dozen cases of killings or attempted killings of exiled critics have been reported, including that of retired army Colonel and anti-government activist Roberto Samcam, who was murdered in Costa Rica in June 2025.
‘Crimes Against Humanity’
The report documents a multi-layered intelligence structure integrating the military, police, immigration authorities, telecommunications regulators, and diplomatic missions.
Meanwhile, digital surveillance and methods such as harassment, hacking, and doxing have been employed to silence critics.
Ariela Peralta, from the independent group of experts, stated, “Diplomatic and consular structures have been used as tools to track, monitor, and intimidate exiled Nicaraguans.”
Peralta also highlighted gender-based violations as another concern, describing them as part of a deliberate strategy of repression aimed at punishing women and the feminist movement for their long-standing leadership as autonomous political actors.
The report reiterated its previous findings that the violations committed since 2018 appear to constitute crimes against humanity.
‘Urgent’ International Accountability
With Nicaragua halting its cooperation with the Human Rights Council and withdrawing from various UN bodies, the Group of Experts emphasized that “international accountability is more urgent than ever.”
The UN independent experts called on Member States to establish a comprehensive accountability framework encompassing universal jurisdiction, targeted sanctions, and treaty-based litigation, while also ensuring robust protection for exiled populations.
