New US Sanctions Following Death of Political Prisoner in Nicaragua

On Monday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared new sanctions targeting over 100 officials from Nicaragua’s communist government. This decision follows the death of Brooklyn Rivera, a 73-year-old political prisoner who passed away in state custody last week.

Rivera died under ambiguous circumstances, nearly three years after being arrested. The conditions of his captivity had escalated considerably since 2023. Only a few days prior to his death, it was reported that his health had seriously declined.

In a public statement, Rubio emphasized that the United States cannot overlook the Nicaraguan regime’s culpability in Rivera’s “horrific death.” He specifically pointed out Lumberto Campbell Hooker, a top official already subject to US sanctions, accusing him of denying medical care to political detainees and obstructing families from giving their loved ones proper burials.

Rubio stated, “Today, the US took significant steps to impose additional visa restrictions on over 100 officials of the dictatorship and their families.” With the latest measures, the US government has now restricted visas for more than 2,350 Nicaraguan officials and their families due to their roles in supporting the oppressive regime of Rosario Murillo and Daniel Ortega. The United States continues to stand with the Nicaraguan people who, like Rivera, seek freedom.

Brooklyn Rivera was a former congressman and a prominent figure representing Nicaragua’s indigenous Miskito people, known for their opposition to dictator Daniel Ortega. He founded the political party Yatama.

In April 2023, Rivera traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, to speak against the Ortega government at the UN Forum on Indigenous Peoples. Afterward, Ortega barred Rivera from returning to Nicaragua. Rivera then managed to sneak back into his home country, living under the radar from law enforcement until his eventual arrest in September 2023 on unspecified charges. Human rights activist Reed Brody recently noted that no one had heard from Rivera since his arrest, effectively rendering him a victim of enforced disappearance. The Yatama party was also banned shortly after his detention.

In late May, three years post his UN speech, the Ortega government released a troubling video from that meeting, showing Rivera’s health had deteriorated so severely that he was bedridden in critical condition at a Nicaraguan hospital. This disturbing footage led to significant international outrage, with politicians and activists blaming the regime for his dire health situation.

Days after this video, Ortega’s administration announced Rivera’s death on May 30, attributing it to a “bacterial infection” linked to COVID-19. However, there are claims that the government concealed details surrounding Rivera’s death, suggesting his body was stored for state purposes. He became the seventh political prisoner known to have died in state custody under the communist regime, a list that includes relatives of Ortega himself.

In a strange turn, Rosario Murillo, Ortega’s wife, confirmed Rivera’s death through state media, calling him a “brother” and stating he went through significant health struggles but was now “resting peacefully.”

Deputy Chief Governor Christopher Landau remarked, “The Ortega-Murillo dictatorship is responsible for the death of Brooklyn Rivera, who suffered inhumane treatment and wrongful detention. The United States stands with those like him who strive for freedom in Nicaragua.”

Brooklyn Rivera’s daughter, Tininiska, denounced the regime last week, claiming the government refused to return her father’s remains, opting instead for quick burials without familial consent. After her father’s arrest, Tininiska had defected, sharing she had not seen him since. She fears that the regime’s refusal to release the body would prevent an independent autopsy from revealing the torture and mistreatment he endured.

Reports surfaced indicating that six of Rivera’s relatives were unfairly detained by the Ortega government while trying to recover Brooklyn Rivera’s remains. These relatives, including his 64-year-old sister, were believed to be subject to enforced disappearance as of last week.