In Nicaragua, over 20 people were killed last week, including during peaceful marches organised on Mothers' Day on 30 May. This adds to the already long list of casualties since the start of the protests. Our heartfelt sympathy goes to the victims' families.

The continued violence in the country and the excessive use of force by police and unruly mobs is unacceptable. These attacks violate people's basic rights and render the conditions for peaceful dialogue more difficult.

An internationally supervised investigation into these acts of violence must be held. The agreement reached between the Organization of American States (OAS), the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and the government regarding the investigation of violence and the casualties, which took place during the recent demonstrations, needs to be followed through. All IACHR recommendations should be fulfilled, and the relevant UN bodies have to be given access to the country. The government must impose internationally accepted standards of behaviour and practice on the police forces and disband violent groups. 

The EU continues to support an inclusive dialogue on justice and democracy as the way out of the current crisis and as a means to deliver on the legitimate democratic aspirations of the Nicaraguan people.