Colombia Offers Political Asylum to Ex-Panamanian President Martinelli

The Colombian government has granted asylum to Ricardo Martinelli, escaping a money-laundering conviction following his year at the Nicaraguan embassy.

In a significant political development, the Colombian government announced on Saturday their decision to grant asylum to Ricardo Martinelli, the former president of Panama. Martinelli had been residing within the walls of the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City for over a year, seeking to avoid serving a prison sentence due to a money-laundering conviction.

The Foreign Ministry of Colombia confirmed the decision through an official statement, mentioning arrangements made for Martinelli to leave the embassy in a diplomatic vehicle to a nearby airport, where he would then travel to Bogotá. Upon arrival, he expressed his gratitude for being recognized as a political refugee.

Martinelli, aged 73, served as Panama’s president from 2009 until 2014. In 2023, he was convicted of money laundering, with prosecutors accusing him of misappropriating public funds related to the acquisition of a publishing house in 2010. The court sentenced him to ten years behind bars and imposed a hefty fine of $19 million, a verdict which the Supreme Court of Panama upheld during the appeal process. Martinelli claims he was unjustly targeted for political reasons.

After being granted asylum by Nicaragua in the previous year, Martinelli took refuge in their embassy, accompanied by some crucial belongings and his dog, Bruno. Initially, he had planned to run for presidency in Panama’s May 2024 election from within the embassy, but two months prior, the electoral tribunal disqualified him due to his conviction. Consequently, his running mate, José Raúl Mulino, stepped into the spotlight and emphasized Martinelli’s legacy during the election campaign. Ultimately, Mulino emerged victorious in the elections, with Martinelli providing support from his diplomatic sanctuary.