Irving Larios

Irving Larios: “They accuse me for working for social justice”.

Irving Larios is a 63-year-old sociologist and economist, member of the Articulation of Social Movements (AMS) and former member of the National Blue and White Unity (UNAB).

Larios, also President of the Institute for Research and Social Management (INGES), was sentenced in March 2022 by Judge Nancy Aguirre to 13 years in prison, a fine of C$160,000 Córdobas and disqualification from holding public office, for the alleged crimes of conspiracy to commit undermining national integrity and propagation of false news.

The trial against Irving took place in the jails of the Judicial Assistance Directorate, evidencing the subordination of the Judicial Power to the police state imposed by the regime.

After being sentenced Irving said: “I am accused for working for social justice and for a world in which people can live with dignity. In Nicaragua there is an urgent need to restore democracy and I am and always will be a defender of human rights”.

Irving was detained since September 20, 2021 and since then he was transferred to the Directorate of Judicial Assistance where he remained incommunicado for more than 50 days. The arbitrary detention took place days after the Articulation of Social Movements called for an electoral strike in protest against the flawed electoral process scheduled to take place in November of that year. The IACHR and MESENI condemned Larios’ detention the day after the human rights defender was arrested.

The social activist was violently removed from his home by eight police officers who raided the property. According to available information, he has been forced to remain in punishment cells for up to five months, which has deteriorated his physical and emotional state.

Irving is an elderly person who suffers from hypertension and uric acid. He had to be admitted to the detention center clinic for three days due to a health crisis. In order to protect his health and his life, the authorities must change the prison measure and replace it with home detention because the Judicial Assistance Directorate does not provide the conditions to provide him with the necessary medical care and food.

Recently, in March 2022, Covid presented symptoms and the authorities treated his symptoms as if they were pharyngitis, exposing his health and his life.

Taking into account the risks to his health and life posed by continuing to be deprived of liberty in the aforementioned conditions, the IACHR granted precautionary measures on June 20, 2022, requiring the State to adopt the necessary measures to protect his life, personal integrity and health and to adopt the necessary measures to ensure that the conditions of detention are compatible with international standards.

Freedom for Irving Larios! 

We demand to the Ortega-Murillo regime: Free Nicas Now!