Nicaragua’s shaky democracy has suffered significantly under Daniel Ortega. Five municipalities headed by democratic opponents were taken over by police this week. This article is published by Democracy Digest. Here is an excerpt:

Nicaraguan police this week seized control of five towns led by democratic opponents of Daniel Ortega’s regime, The Post reports.

The authorities are also using money laundering legislation, the Foreign Agents law and other restrictive laws to crack down on civil society, in an effort to dismantle civic participation spaces that are not controlled by the government, CIVICUS adds.

The regime has shut down 101 civic organizations and charities, including the local branch of the Missionaries of Charity established by Mother Teresa, Reuters reports, and political prisoners are being kept in “horrific conditions.”

Read the full article here.