PANAMA CITY — After more than a year of residing within Nicaragua’s embassy in Panama, former Panama President Ricardo Martinelli is set to depart for Nicaragua on humanitarian grounds. This development follows an announcement by Panama’s Foreign Affairs Minister Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez on Thursday.
The former leader has taken refuge in the embassy since Panama sought his arrest post his final unsuccessful appeal against a money laundering conviction. Martinelli, aged 73, contends that the charges were politically motivated to thwart his attempt to pursue another term in office.
Minister Martínez-Acha Vásquez conveyed that Martinelli’s transition to Nicaragua would afford him more favorable conditions to manage his legal defense and seek medical attention for undisclosed health concerns.
“Recognizing that judicial proceedings often don’t align with health needs, our Ministry has decided to uphold the asylum granted to Mr. Martinelli Berrocal by the Nicaraguan authorities,” stated the minister. He is expected to leave Panama by midnight on March 31.
A prominent businessman and supermarket tycoon, Martinelli served as Panama’s President from 2009 until 2014. Despite winning his party’s nomination to contend for presidency once more in 2023, he faced a setback following his conviction on money laundering charges—resulting in a prison sentence exceeding ten years and a $19 million fine. His appeal was dismissed by the Supreme Court, rendering him ineligible for the election.
Subsequently, Martinelli extended his support to his vice-presidential candidate, José Raúl Mulino, who assumed the office of President. Mulino had expressed in recent discussions with Nicaragua’s new ambassador to Panama that permitting Martinelli’s travel to Nicaragua was a point of consideration.
In February 2024, Nicaragua extended political asylum to Martinelli; however, Panama resisted facilitating his relocation to Nicaragua. Meanwhile, Martinelli continued to exert political influence via social media during the prior year’s presidential race.
On Thursday, preceding the official announcement, Martinelli uploaded a video on Instagram suggesting that a specialized police unit had surrounded the embassy and was scrutinizing individuals entering the premises. The content was also shared on another platform, X.
“I am unsure if they intend to breach the embassy or target me for unknown reasons,” he expressed in the video.
However, an eyewitness report from outside the embassy noted the presence of merely two police vehicles with a small group of regular officers.
In another video featured by local publication La Prensa, Martinelli stated he was accompanied by his dog, Bruno, and his legal team, as they scrutinized the government’s unexpected announcement. He steadfastly maintained his innocence during the discussion.
As of now, the Panamanian government has not clarified the procedures concerning Martinelli’s exit from the country.