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Russian Media Expands Influence in Nicaragua Amid Growing Information Vacuum
Russian state-backed media outlets RT and Sputnik have established a commanding presence in Nicaragua, wielding significant influence over the nation’s information landscape while promoting anti-Western narratives and supporting the Ortega-Murillo regime, according to recent findings by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
The content disseminated by these Russian outlets in Nicaragua consistently focuses on confronting the United States, NATO, and Western media organizations. Their messaging glorifies Russia as a global power while portraying Ukraine as a “puppet state” of Western interests. The narratives actively attempt to legitimize authoritarian governments while undermining feminist movements, non-governmental organizations, and independent media sources.
The impact extends far beyond Nicaragua’s borders. According to Voice of America reporting based on United States Institute of Peace data, RT and Sputnik’s Spanish-language operations reached approximately 32 million regular consumers throughout Latin America in 2023. RT in Spanish has cultivated a Facebook audience of about 17 million followers, surpassing the Spanish-language accounts of major international outlets like CNN and BBC, and even outperforming RT’s own English-language presence.
During the early months of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, RT in Spanish became the third most shared domain on Twitter for Spanish-language discussions about the war, with Sputnik also ranking among the top 15 most-referenced sources.
In Nicaragua, the influence of these Russian outlets has been strategically amplified through institutional workshops, university partnerships, and social media campaigns portraying Russia as a sovereign ally against what they characterize as Western media imperialism. Training sessions conducted for Nicaraguan state journalists ensure Kremlin-influenced content is produced internally by local media personnel.
Pro-government Nicaraguan outlets such as El 19 Digital and TN8 have embraced this messaging, describing Sputnik as “a bastion of truth against the fake news fabricated by NATO’s media corporations.” Universities have also become targets of these initiatives, with Russian media representatives conducting workshops at institutions like Universidad Nacional Casimiro Sotelo Montenegro to train journalism students in what they term “truthful and sovereign” reporting.
Nicaraguan officials, particularly Vice President Rosario Murillo, have publicly celebrated these collaborations. During RT in Spanish’s 15th anniversary commemoration, Murillo thanked “the visit of our brothers from the Sputnik News Agency,” praising their role as allies “waging an unrelenting battle against media manipulation” and describing them as “the voice of the peoples who refuse to be silenced.”
The bilateral relationship has been reinforced through regular official visits. According to RSF, at least six delegations from RT in Spanish and three from Sputnik have traveled to Nicaragua since 2022. High-profile representatives including Victoria Vorontsova and Vasili Pushkov, head of Sputnik’s international cooperation department, have led these missions focused on signing cooperation agreements, training local journalists, and strengthening editorial collaboration.
RSF investigators were unable to speak directly with any Nicaraguan journalists involved in these partnerships, highlighting the extreme control over information within the country. One RSF local partner explained that “no journalist inside Nicaragua was willing to speak out due to fears of being accused of treason,” adding that “anyone who tried to make contact would be suspected of being an infiltrator.”
This media partnership flourishes against the backdrop of Nicaragua’s decimated press freedom landscape. Since 2018, more than 60 independent media outlets have been shut down, confiscated, or forced into exile under the Ortega-Murillo government. Within this information vacuum, the regime has effectively transferred control of the public narrative to media platforms aligned with authoritarian interests.
The growing influence of Russian state media in Nicaragua represents a concerning example of how authoritarian powers can leverage information partnerships to strengthen geopolitical alliances while undermining independent journalism and democratic discourse in vulnerable regions.
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6 Comments
Interesting to see how Russia is leveraging its media influence to sow discord and undermine Western interests in Latin America. I wonder what the long-term goals and strategies of these propaganda efforts are.
This is concerning, as Russian disinformation campaigns can have far-reaching and destabilizing effects in the region. It’s important to closely monitor these state-backed media outlets and challenge their narratives with facts and independent reporting.
This is a concerning development, as Russian propaganda can contribute to political polarization and erode trust in democratic institutions. I hope the international community can work to counter these efforts and support independent media in Nicaragua.
This is a troubling development, as Russian state media outlets seem to be leveraging their reach to amplify authoritarian narratives and undermine independent voices. It’s important to remain vigilant and push back against these kinds of influence operations.
The expansion of Russian propaganda in Nicaragua is troubling, as it undermines democracy and freedom of information. Promoting authoritarian regimes while attacking independent media is a tactic we’ve seen used elsewhere, and it needs to be countered.
It’s alarming to see the scale of Russian disinformation operations in the region, reaching millions of consumers. This highlights the need for greater media literacy and fact-checking to combat the spread of these harmful narratives.