Nicaragua Grants Asylum to Ricardo Martinelli

February 7, 2024 Hour: 9:35 pm

The Government of Nicaragua announced on Wednesday its decision to grant asylum to former Panamanian President Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Berrocal.

RELATED:
Nicaragua Congratulates Grenada on Its Independence Anniversary

The Nicaraguan Ministry of Foreign Affairs notified its Panamanian counterpart in an official communiqué the decision based on the 1928 Asylum Convention and the 1933 Political Asylum Convention.

It recognizes that “asylum is an institution of a humanitarian nature and that all persons may be under its protection, without distinction of nationality.”

The text stated that “this Ministry transmits that former President Ricardo Martinelli requested asylum in the Embassy of the Republic of Nicaragua in Panama, because he considers himself persecuted for political reasons and his life, physical integrity and security are at imminent risk.”

#Mundo. Nicaragua concedió este miércoles 7 de febrero asilo al expresidente panameño Ricardo Martinelli, días después de que este perdiera el último recurso para anular una condena de casi 11 años de cárcel por blanqueo de capitales. pic.twitter.com/aFTN15cfrC

— Semanario Universidad (@SemanarioU)
February 8, 2024

The tweet reads, “Nicaragua granted asylum to former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli on Wednesday, February 7, days after he lost his last appeal to overturn an almost 11-year prison sentence for money laundering.”

The Nicaraguan Foreign Ministry requested the Panamanian government to provide all the necessary assurances to guarantee Martinelli’s departure and humanitarian transfer to Nicaragua.

It reiterated to the “Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Panama the expressions of its consideration.”

Martinelli was the 36th president of Panama between 2009 and 2014 for the Panameñista Party.