Francisco Javier Díaz Madriz is the Director General of the National Police of Nicaragua. He was appointed by president Daniel Ortega on July 5, 2018,[1] following Aminta Granera's resignation from the position in the face of mass protests across Nicaragua and the widespread criticism of the aggressive police response that followed.[2] The appointment became public August 23 and Díaz was officially sworn in on September 5, 2018.[1]
Díaz was sanctioned by the U.S. State Department on July 5, 2018—a few hours before the decree appointing Díaz Director-General[1]—under the Magnitsky Act for what the State Department called "serious human rights abuse against the people of Nicaragua" by police under his supervision during the protests.[3]
Díaz and Ortega are related through their children's marriage.[3]