Ortega and Murillo increase repression: 31 arrested in two months

The National Police in Nicaragua, described as the repressive arm of the Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo dictatorship, carried out a new wave of arrests in June and July 2026, detaining approximately 31 Nicaraguans, including minors, whom the regime labels as opponents. According to the Blue and White Monitoring group, 10 of these individuals have been released, but 16 remain forcibly disappeared, including two minors. June and July are typically months when the dictatorship intensifies repression due to the proximity of the anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution's triumph. This pattern has also been observed in April. The monitoring group cautioned that these figures represent only verifiable information from received complaints and public sources, suggesting the actual number of violations is likely higher. While men have historically been the primary targets of repression, recent detentions show an increasing number of women and minors. In June and July, 109 victims were reported, with 59 men and 50 women, including five minors. Beyond arrests, 78 individuals faced other forms of repression, such as suspension of professional credentials, social control, harassment, migratory repression, and asset confiscation. These incidents were concentrated in Managua (25 cases), Matagalpa (10), and Estelí (6), with ten cases recorded abroad. July saw a significant rise in asset confiscation or transfer to state institutions, with 19 cases, largely due to the transfer of 14 confiscated properties to the Nicaraguan Social Security Institute. The report also noted an increase in the suspension of licenses for lawyers, affecting various political profiles as a mechanism of control and punishment.