The unexpected rapprochement between Washington and Caracas in the midst of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has generated various assessments in Managua, where experts point out that the Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega has been practically isolated and alone in the region, along with Cuba in his position in favor of Moscow.
This Wednesday the United States government included in the “Engel List” to at least nine Nicaraguan officials accusing them of undermining democracy and for trials of more than 40 opponents.
Among those sanctioned, a judge from Managua stands out, as well as the main magistrates of the Supreme Electoral Council, among others.
The opposition Alexa Zamora, a member of the Blue and White National Unity, maintains that the sanctions that were issued on Wednesday against nine people are the direct result of the policy that the United States has had in the application, especially of the RENACER law.
“Very likely there will be more actions like these since it is part of the process of monitoring and sanctions against the Ortega and Murillo regime,” Zamora opines to the voice of america.
With the approach of the United States to Maduro, he maintains, Ortega would practically lose a key ally such as Venezuela, or at least the president of Caracas would have more restraint to support governments like the Nicaraguan one.
Activists and opponents even reiterated that Ortega’s support for Russia would be putting the security of Nicaraguans at risk.
“Ortega has seriously endangered the sovereignty and security as a State by openly declaring himself an ally of Russia and supporting these warlike actions carried out by the Russian Federation and which are being condemned and sanctioned by the entire international community,” adds Zamora.
The leader of the leftist movement “Unite”, Héctor Mairena, mentions that there are important differences between Venezuela and Nicaragua even to be able to reach negotiations with the United States.
“Venezuela is a country with three hundred oil reserves and on the other hand, on the political level, we must remember that Maduro, in the previous months, has already started a negotiation process with the opposition, a negotiation that until now has not been successful. fruitful but good, it is a precedent”, values Mairena.
He adds that although an assessment on the table cannot be ruled out, he says that “Ortega has nothing to offer the United States in this case.”
“What I would like to insist on is that the opposition considers that the release of political prisoners is a demand that remains unscathed and that it cannot be the subject of negotiation for any scenario in Nicaragua. I do not see Ortega betting on a realization, frankly I do not see it, “said Mairena.
Finally, he maintains that Ortega’s bet on Russia was a miscalculation made by “Orteguism.”
Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our channel Youtube and turn on notifications, or follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
