The Foreign Minister of Costa Rica, Manuel Tovar, expressed on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) his country’s concern about the Russian military presence in Nicaragua, as well as “terrorist organizations” such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
“Costa Rica observes with enormous concern the persistent and recent presence in Nicaragua of Russian military forces and terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah,” Tovar said in a speech in which he celebrated the adoption of a declaration on Nicaragua.
“Just yesterday (Monday) several individuals linked to or belonging to the Hamas group were detained by police forces in my country,” he added.
Tovar said that that statement about Nicaragua —still in draft— is an instrument that reaffirms that democracy, human rights, the rule of law and fundamental freedoms “continue to be essential pillars of the inter-American system.”
“We appreciate that this General Assembly has expressed its concern about the deterioration of the democratic situation and human rights in Nicaragua, due to the reports of arbitrary detentions, forced disappearances and restrictions on fundamental freedoms, as well as the persecution and harassment against religious leaders and faith communities,” said the Costa Rican Foreign Minister.
Death of Brooklyn Rivera
Tovar added that Costa Rica “deplores” the recent death of Brooklyn RiveraNicaraguan indigenous leader, defender of the rights of indigenous peoples and beneficiary of protection measures of the inter-American system.
“His death in state custody constitutes an event of enormous magnitude that requires full clarification of the facts, respect for his family members’ right to the truth, and accountability,” he declared.
The Costa Rican minister also expressed his condemnation of murder of retired Nicaraguan major Roberto Samcamwhich occurred in Costa Rica on June 19, 2025.
“We highlight the actions of the national authorities that have allowed the arrest and judicial prosecution of several suspects. Costa Rica will continue to act firmly to guarantee that all those responsible are brought to justice and that no form of violence or intimidation finds its place in impunity,” he stated.
Tovar affirmed that the declaration of the OAS General Assembly on Nicaragua “sends a strong message of solidarity with the victims, their families and the Nicaraguan people, and of support for the principles established in the OAS Charter, the American Convention on Human Rights and the Inter-American Democratic Charter.”
Bilateral relations between Costa Rica and Nicaragua are maintained at the consulate level. Since 2018, the then Costa Rican president Carlos Alvarado (2018-2022) decided not to appoint an ambassador to Nicaragua due to the repression and violations of the rights of opponents and protesters.
