The dictatorial regime of Nicaragua granted the asylum request to the former president of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli, who faces a lengthy prison sentence in addition to a million-dollar fine for money laundering.
According to a statement issued by the Nicaraguan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the 71-year-old former president was granted asylum after Martinelli argued that he is being persecuted for political reasons and that his life is in danger.
"The State of the Republic of Nicaragua transmits that, in accordance with the Convention on Asylum of 1928 and the Convention on Political Asylum of 1933, the Government of the Republic of Nicaragua has decided to grant asylum to Mr. Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Berrocal, former president of the Republic of Panama", reported the Government of Daniel Ortega.
#ÚLTIMAHORA | El candidato presidencial Ricardo Martinelli, solicitó asilo político en la Embajada de Nicaragua en Panamá por persecución política, el cual le fue concedido.#PanamaEnDirecto pic.twitter.com/BAjSKHTCex
— Panamá En Directo (@panamaendirecto) February 7, 2024
Martinelli requested asylum after the ratification of his sentence
Martinelli, who hoped to be re-elected as president in this year's elections, requested asylum after the Supreme Court of Panama rejected his appeal to annul his sentence of more than ten years in prison and a 19.2 million dollar fine. This decision politically disqualified the candidate from participating in the general elections scheduled for May 5.
The former president was convicted in July 2023 for the complex purchase of the media publisher Epasa. At that time, Martinelli claimed that the entire judicial process against him had a political background. "We all know that they want to condemn me for political interests. I am innocent. All my contributed money is legal and has been proven. I have no relationship whatsoever with illicit money. What they want is to disqualify me, they don't want me to be your president. I want you to know something: I will continue to fight for you and your family until I am president of Panama again," he said last year after being convicted.
However, after his sentencing, Martinelli went further and assured that in addition to the disqualification, some "forces of evil" were also seeking to end his life. "They want to imprison me, to try again to kill me in prison," he assured.
Soy inocente, mi único pecado, fue hacer un gobierno que le sirvió al pueblo, demostrando así, que en nuestro querido Panamá, los gobiernos que me antecedieron y siguieron , siempre tuvieron plata para mejorar tu vida, lo que ellos nunca tuvieron fue la voluntad de ayudarte.
Las…
— Ricardo Martinelli (@rmartinelli) February 3, 2024
Another case against Martinelli
The former Panamanian president faces another judicial hearing scheduled for July 2024 related to alleged bribes received from the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht during his presidential administration between 2009 and 2014. Former President Juan Carlos Varela (2014-2019) and former Minister of Public Works Carlos Dubois are also involved in this case.
Martinelli, the third former president protected by the Nicaraguan dictatorship
Martinelli is now part of a long list of politicians and fugitives from justice who have sought refuge in Nicaragua, including two other former presidents wanted for corruption. Former Salvadoran leaders Mauricio Funes and Salvador Sánchez Cerén also faced judicial problems when the Nicaraguan dictatorial regime gave them refuge.
Ortega granted Funes asylum in 2016, helping the former president avoid extradition on embezzlement and bribery charges. Cerén was nationalized in 2021 despite the fact that he was wanted in Salvador for illicit enrichment and money laundering.
Dictadura otorga “asilo político” al expresidente de Panamá, Ricardo Martinelli. Después de los salvadoreños Mauricio Funes y Salvador Sánchez, el panameño, es el tercer expresidente prófugo de la justicia de su país protegido por Ortega en Nicaragua. https://t.co/XZGwAN8aBf
— Carlos F Chamorro (@cefeche) February 7, 2024
