Nicaragua’s communist government has authorized the creation of a Russian-made “guidance center” to “restructure” Nicaragua’s police force, authorities confirmed last week.
Local media and experts accused the center of being a possible “cover-up” for a future Russian spy agency in the Central American country.
Nicaragua’s parliament on Thursday approved the construction of a training center as part of an agreement between Nicaragua and Russia aimed at the “retraining and professional development” of Nicaraguan police. The agreement was made in accordance with the agreement of Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Russian Security Council. visit In February, he went to Managua, where he met with dictator Daniel Ortega.
nicaraguan newspaper la prensa report It was announced on Monday that the center would operate under the direction of Russian personnel, who would be given immunity and privileges granted to diplomats accredited in the country, and would be given “Nicaraguan authorities regarding their actions within Nicaragua.” There is no obligation on the authorities to take responsibility.” ”
la prensa Quoting an anonymous international relations expert who reviewed the agreement, the center’s objective was to “establish an espionage intelligence platform in Nicaragua and spread it beyond Nicaragua, perhaps to other interests in Central America and the Caribbean.” “To expand into certain countries, but also to confront the United States more closely.”
Construction of the police “guidance center” will be carried out independently by Russia at its own expense. Russia will have ownership and control of the completed facility. If the agreement between the two countries is terminated, the facility and its assets will remain under Russian control, and Russia will have “the right to use the real estate and training center for purposes unrelated to the implementation of the agreement,” it said. It is being .
Nicaraguan newspaper quotes anonymous expert confidential said In effect, Ortega’s government has ceded “part of the country” to Russia, with Moscow taking full control of what it calls a police training center and potentially serving as a “front” for other operations. .
Quoted by another anonymous expert confidential He warned that if “substantive” operational control of the center were to fall into Russian hands, it would open the way for the appointment of KGB personnel to manage the facility.
“The Ortega government is raising the bar in the geopolitical game. The content, treatment and structure they plan to give to that center makes it look more like a spy agency,” the expert commented. confidential.
“This will be the first Russian intelligence center in Central America,” the expert added.
Javier Meléndez, Director of the Nicaraguan Research Center Expediente Abierto (“Open file”) explanation confidential It says the Russian consulting and training provided by the facility is “aimed at protecting the dictatorship.”
“This is definitely serious for Nicaraguans. In addition to the Cuban-sponsored espionage environment, we will continue to see further militarization of the police and a dynamic that continues to repress the people instead of fighting crime,” Melendez said. he said.
Melendez said the issue of police training by Russian security advisers in authoritarian states like Nicaragua represents risks and challenges related to further repression and further human rights violations.
Police and riot police patrol outside the Archbishop of Curia in Matagalpa to prevent Bishop Rolando Álvarez from leaving on August 4, 2022 in Matagalpa, Nicaragua. Riot police prevented Nicaraguan Bishop Rolando Alvarez from leaving the church building to preside at Mass. A “prayer campaign” is being carried out by the church following the closure of several Catholic media outlets and allegations of harassment. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)
Meléndez stressed that “there is evidence elsewhere that training provided by Russian advisers has exacerbated internal conflicts in countries already facing ethnic, political and social tensions.”
The planned police training center will not be the first police institution built by Russia in Nicaragua. The Ortega administration took office in 2017. was launched Russian-Nicaraguan Drug Enforcement Training Center in Managua.
In September 2023, during the 44th anniversary of the founding of the Nicaraguan police force, Daniel Ortega said that a Russian-built anti-drug training center was used to help the regime’s “coup-thwarting” wave of anti-communist protests in the country in 2018. He admitted that it helped prevent this.
“Militaries specializing in this issue are conducting training courses throughout the Central American region and, logically, with the participation of national police forces, in order to better confront drug traffickers, organized crime and coup leaders.” said Ortega. Said at that time.
During the event, Mr. Ortega praised Russian General Oleg Anatolyevich Plokhoi for his support to the communist regime.
Christian K. Caruso is a Venezuelan writer who chronicles life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter here.
