Walner Ruíz
Walner Ruíz Rivera, 34 years old, originally from Barrio de Monimbó, Masaya, actively participated in the protests that began in April 2018. In July 2018, he went into exile to Costa Rica due to “Operation Cleanup” executed by police and parastatals against opponents who supported the social outburst of April.
Walner Ruiz Rivera, was detained by Costa Rican immigration authorities on July 16, 2021, remaining in custody until November 11 of the same year, after being deported by Costa Rican authorities to Nicaragua, in response to a request issued by Interpol, at the request of the State of Nicaragua.
After his deportation, the Nicaraguan authorities did not provide any information to Walner’s relatives about the place where he was being detained and about his state of health. For 50 days he was under enforced disappearance, until December 31, 2021, when authorities notified the family members that they had to go to the facilities of the Judicial Assistance Directorate known as “El Nuevo Chipote” for a family visit.
After the first visit, the family members denounced the cruel and inhumane treatment by the police against Walner: daily interrogations; that he was taken hooded to interrogations, with his hands and feet handcuffed to his neck; not taken out in the sun; forced to remain naked; without authorization to use towels and sheets; forcing him to suffer cold, heat and insect bites.
On January 12, 2022, Walner Ruiz was transferred to the Jorge Navarro penitentiary system, known as “La Modelo,” to maximum security cells known as 300, where he is in solitary confinement. In La Modelo, he does not have the right to a sun patio and is not allowed to receive family parcels. He is only allowed to receive cooked food every 8 days, does not have access to water during the day and his family members are not allowed to bring him water to drink.
Walner was charged by the Public Prosecutor’s Office for the crimes of organized crime, aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, and internal trafficking of narcotics, psychotropic and controlled substances and manufacture, trafficking, possession and use of restricted weapons, substances or explosive devices. Walner was submitted to a process in which no evidence was presented in relation to the crimes he was accused of; in relation to the persons referred to as victims of the aggravated murder; the institutions in charge of the investigation: Police, Public Ministry and Institute of Forensic Medicine, did not complete the investigation; the legal medical opinions made were only observations, without the physical examination or an exhumation of the corpse, according to the procedures of the law. Judge Nancy Aguirre found him guilty and sentenced him to 44 years in prison and a payment equivalent to 500 days fine.
Freedom for Walner Ruíz Rivera!
We demand that the Ortega-Murillo regime: NicasLibresYa!
