Nicaragua has become the first country outside Russia to recognise the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The Central American state’s President, Daniel Ortega, said he backs Russia in its efforts to end tension in the Caucasus.
Vladimir Degay from the Russian Embassy in Nicaragua said that the president made the announcement on September 2. “After the Georgian leadership launched an attack that left thousands of people killed, wounded or displaced in these two republics, Ortega said Russia had no other option but to protect the free choice of these two states,” he said. The government is now preparing all the necessary documents to make the decision legal. It also needs to be supported by the country's parliament. Ortega criticised NATO countries for attempting to surround Russia with weapons and military bases.