President Daniel Ortega on Sept. 3 announced that Nicaragua will officially recognize the breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, two regions that broke away from the country of Georgia and declared their independence following Russia s military intervention last month.
Nicaragua, in effect, is the only country in the world other than Russia to recognize the two pro-Russian republics. Ortega s decision was formalized last week by Nicaragua s Foreign Ministry.
The decision has been criticized by foreign policy experts here who say it s just another example of Ortega sticking his nose where it doesn t belong, possibly at the expense of worsening relations with the rest of Europe and the United States, which have all condemned Russia s military action in Georgia.
