In a decree issued this week and confirmed by Russia on Thursday, Ortega will allow Russian troops to carry out law enforcement missions, “humanitarian aid, rescue and relief missions or natural disasters.” The Nicaraguan government has also authorized the presence of small forces of Russian troops for “exchange of experience and training”. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told the Russian news agency Sputnik that the measure was “routine.” “We are talking about a routine process – twice a year – of passing a Nicaraguan law on the temporary admission of foreign military personnel to its territory in order to develop cooperation in various areas, including humanitarian and emergency response, the fight against organized crime and organized crime. “Drug trafficking,” Zakharova said. He noted that the law also authorizes troops from the United States, Mexico and other Central American countries for such purposes. Ortega has been a staunch ally of Russia since his days in the leadership of the 1979 revolution that overthrew dictator Anastasia Somoza. Ortega served as president from 1985 to 1990, before being re-elected in 2007. The Ortega government arrested dozens of political opposition leaders, including most of the potential presidential candidates, in the months leading up to his re-election for a fourth consecutive term last year. His government has shut down dozens of non-governmental groups he accuses of working for foreign interests to destabilize his government. Tens of thousands of Nicaraguan people have been deported. More
