The Man Behind Fabricated Cases Against Prisoners Now  Leads The Police in Nicaragua

The new deputy chief of the Nicaraguan Police was one of those responsible for fabricating cases against political prisoners.

Juan Victoriano Ruiz Urbina, 44, was officially appointed co-chief of the Nicaraguan Police on August 29. He will work alongside Francisco Díaz, who has served as the institution’s sole chief since 2018.

The appointment follows the National Assembly’s approval of a constitutional reform on August 27, which allows the President to appoint two police chiefs.

Juan Victoriano Ruiz does not belong to the «historical Sandinista» movement, which has traditionally held the highest-ranking positions within institutions. The term refers to individuals who actively participated in the Sandinista Revolution.

The new co-chief was a leading figure in the investigation of human trafficking in the country and in 2013 was honored by the U.S. State Department, which named him one of the 144 «Heroes of the World» for his work.

In 2020, Ruiz was already serving as deputy head of the Judicial Assistance Directorate (DAJ), which houses the «El Chipote» detention center, where hundreds of opponents have been detained without the right to defense.

In April 2025, the UN Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua (GHREN) included his name on the list of 54 Nicaraguan citizens responsible for serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity in the country.

According to the National Police Law, to reach the rank of general commissioner and chief of police, one must remain within the institution for between 30 and 35 years. His promotion is a clear violation of the statutes established by the institution itself.