The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) granted precautionary measures in favor of the Nicaraguan Ricardo José Mendoza Irigoyen, 64, arbitrarily detained on January 23, 2026 and who is in a condition of forced disappearance, the NGO Human Rights Collective for the Historical Memory of Nicaragua reported this Thursday.
In a statement, that organization indicated that the IACHR decided to grant precautionary measures for the benefit of Mendoza Irigoyen after considering that he is “in a serious and urgent situation, which puts his life and personal integrity in Nicaragua at risk.”
The request filed by the Collective before the IACHR highlights that the beneficiary was detained after an operation at his home in the southern highway area, in Managua.
Since then, his relatives have had no information about his whereabouts or destination despite the search efforts carried out by state authorities.
The IACHR asked the State of Nicaragua to determine his whereabouts, inform if he is in state custody and allow access to his family and legal representatives, noted the Collective, made up mostly of Nicaraguan activists in exile and based in San José.
Since his arrest, his relatives have carried out search efforts in different state agencies, however the authorities have not provided official information.
Regime remains silent about Ricardo Mendoza Irigoyen
The IACHR noted that the State of Nicaragua did not respond to the request for information made during the precautionary measures procedure.
Given this situation, the Commission asked Nicaragua to adopt the necessary measures to determine his situation and whereabouts, specify whether he is in state custody and report on the circumstances and conditions of his detention. He also asked to reveal the place where he is being held and guarantee access to his family and legal representatives.
According to public information, Mendoza Irigoyen was not active in any political party nor had he participated in demonstrations or party activities.
For years he worked for an American company dedicated to the study of Nicaraguan flora.
The Collective has denounced that his situation constitutes a forced disappearance and has demanded that the State of Nicaragua provide immediate information about his whereabouts, present proof of life, allow contact with his relatives and legal defense, guarantee his medical care and release him without conditions, as well as that of all political prisoners.
