resolution motion, 10 February 2025
On the repression by the Ortega-Murillo regime in Nicaragua, targeting human rights defenders, political opponents and religious communities in particular
Motion B-10-2025-0132 · (2025/2547(RSP))
on behalf of the PfE Group · Rapporteur: Hermann Tertsch, Jorge Martín Frías, Gerolf Annemans, Nikola Bartůšek, Roberto Vannacci, Susanna Ceccardi
AI:In short
The resolution condemns repression by the Ortega-Murillo regime in Nicaragua, targeting human rights defenders, political opponents and religious communities, and calls for action. It demands release of arbitrarily detained persons, annulment of legal proceedings, extradition of Alessio Casimirri to Italy, tougher EU sanctions, cessation of EU aid, and support for prosecutions for crimes against humanity.
Key points
- Condemns in the strongest possible terms the repression and arbitrary arrests by the Nicaraguan regime against members of the Catholic Church, religious and political leaders, human rights defenders, and all citizens critical of the regime.
- Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all arbitrarily detained, annulment of all legal proceedings against them, and extradition of Alessio Casimirri to Italy.
- Stresses that the judicial system lacks independence from the executive branch and is used to criminalise civil and political rights.
- Calls on the Council to adopt further and tougher sanctions against Ortega-Murillo and their proxies, and demands immediate cessation of all EU financial aid to Nicaragua.
- Calls on the EU and its Member States to support investigations leading to prosecution of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo for crimes against humanity.
Who is affected
- The Nicaraguan regime and its proxies, targeted by sanctions and prosecution demands.
- Detained individuals in Nicaragua, including political and religious leaders, human rights defenders, and citizens, who would be released.
- Alessio Casimirri, living in Managua, subject to extradition request to Italy.
- EU and its Member States, called to support investigations and cease aid.
Figures and deadlines
Written by AI from the full text · every figure comes from the text · ¶ opens the paragraph · 4 Sept 2026 · Report a problem
Full text
Text 19 paragraphs
B100132/2025
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 on 15 September, 2022, this Parliament approved a resolution strongly condemning the systematic repression by the Daniel Ortega-Rosario Murillo regime in Nicaragua, in particular against the Catholic Church, with the case of bishop, and Sakharov prize finalist, Orlando Alvarez;
B.whereas persecution and harassment against the Catholic Church is a consequence of its role as mediators in the 2018 National Dialogue;
C.whereas, according to Open Doors International and its World Watch List, hundreds of Christian organisations have lost their legal status in Nicaragua due to arbitrary regime decisions;
D.whereas attacks against the Catholic Church, other religious communities, and critics with the regime include killings, arbitrarily arrests, dead threats, tortures, enforces disappearances, forced exiles, closure of missionaries and charity associations, and closing of radio/TV stations;
E.whereas, according to the International Republican Institute, after April 2018 more than 730 citizens were arbitrarily imprisoned, including political and religious leaders, human rights defenders, students, journalists and other members of civil society, being accused of crimes such as terrorist acts, conspiracy or treachery, and facing harsh imprisonment conditions; whereas, according to the OAS, 36 citizens remained imprisoned;
F.whereas human rights violations and abuses perpetrated since April 2018 are not an isolated phenomenon, but the result of a planned process to concentrate all powers in the figures of the dictators Ortega-Murillo;
G.whereas systematic repression has triggered a migration and humanitarian crisis in the region, with thousands of Nicaraguans fleeing the country every year; whereas migration is being weaponised by the Ortega-Murillo regime to destabilize the region;
Read the rest (7 paragraphs)
H.whereas the Nicaraguan regime has been consistently supported to remain in power by other dictatorships in the region such as Cuba and Venezuela; whereas Russia has an increasing military presence;
1.Condemns in the strongest possible terms the repression and arbitrary arrests by the Nicaraguan regime against members of the Catholic Church, religious and political leaders, human rights defenders, and all those citizens critics with the regime;
2.Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all those arbitrarily detained, and for all legal proceedings against them to be annulled, including their sentences; calls for the immediate extradition of Alessio Casimirri, currently living in Managua under the protection of the Nicaraguan regime, to Italy;
3.Stresses that the judicial system lacks independence from the executive branch; expresses concern about the manipulation of criminal law and the use of the justice system as a tool to criminalise the exercise of civil and political rights in the country;
4.Calls on the Council to immediately adopt further and tougher sanctions against Ortega-Murillo and all their proxies, responsible for systematic human rights violations in Nicaragua; demands the immediate cessation of all financial aid from the EU to Nicaragua;
5.Calls on the EU and its Member States to support investigations leading to prosecute Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo for crimes against humanity;
6.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the relevant parties.