UN rights chief condemns Nicaragua crackdown after Ortega’s vow to abolish elections, urging restoration of civic space.
GENEVA: The United Nations rights chief on Wednesday condemned Nicaragua’s crackdown on civil and political rights after leader Daniel Ortega vowed to block elections to stop the opposition winning.
Ortega, a former leftist guerrilla in power for almost two decades, announced Sunday that “there won’t be elections in Nicaragua” including dissenting individuals and groups.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said the “latest developments further deepen the severe restrictions on fundamental freedoms, the dismantling of civic space, and the steady erosion of the rule of law” in Nicaragua.
He cautioned in a statement that power in the country was increasingly being placed under the co-presidency.
Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo have ruled Nicaragua for nearly two decades with absolute power. They have kept a tight grip on society since a harsh crackdown on protests in 2018 left more than 300 people dead, according to the UN.
Nicaragua was due to hold general elections in November, but a year and a half ago constitutional reforms extended the presidential term from five to six years, meaning the elections are now scheduled for 2027.
“I call on the authorities to reopen civic space, and restore the rule of law,” Turk said, stressing that “people of all political viewpoints must be allowed to vote and run for office, in line with the State’s international human rights obligations”.
He highlighted that the ruling party in the country maintains total control over parliament, all municipalities and the North and South Caribbean Coast Regional Councils.
He also pointed to how the Nicaraguan government earlier this month abruptly revoked the credentials of a number of lawyers without any legal basis, even as at least 46 people remain arbitrarily detained in the country for political reasons.
“Civic space is nearly closed, and independent expression of thought or opinion is systematically suppressed,” Turk’s statement warned.
The rights chief also voiced concern at “repression against the Catholic Church and other religious denominations”, highlighting in particular the unknown fate of 80-year-old Bishop Bishop Abelardo Mata Guevara, who was detained on 29 June.
“I urge the authorities to release immediately all individuals who have been arbitrarily detained and to ensure that all those detained are treated with humanity and dignity in line with Nicaragua’s obligations under international human rights law,” Turk said.
