Former Nicaragaguan Police Chief Aminta Granera has resurfaced with noticeable weight gain since stepping down from her position in August 2018. Granera was recently photographed at a wedding at the Gran Pacifica hotel in Nicaragua, sparking conversation among opponents and human rights defenders about her role in the 2018 repression.
Granera was seen at various events after leaving her post, including a visit to Masaya in July 2019 where she greeted Daniel Ortega and his family from the street, and at the “Gritería” in the Cathedral of León in August 2019. Photos also captured her buying pastries in a shop in Managua in December 2019.
Calls for Granera to be held accountable for her actions have been mounting, with investigative lawyer Martha Patricia Molina emphasizing the importance of historical memory in building a democratic society. Granera has not faced sanctions from the United States or the European Union, but she has been accused in Argentina for crimes against humanity, along with Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo.
Argentine lawyers Darío Richarte and Diego Pirota initiated the accusations, with the Inter-American Legal Assistance Center on Human Rights filing a second complaint in November 2022. The complaints cite the National Police’s actions during the 2018 repression and hold Granera and Ortega responsible for crimes against humanity.
In a 2016 appearance at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, Granera reflected on the founding of the Nicaraguan police, stating that they aimed not to be like the National Guard, associated with violence and abuse. The conversation surrounding Granera’s past and potential accountability continues to evolve.