Panama Grants Safe Passage for Former President Martinelli to Nicaragua

The Panamanian government has approved safe passage for former President Ricardo Martinelli to leave the country and seek asylum in Nicaragua, citing health concerns, Al Jazeera reports.

The announcement, made by Foreign Affairs Minister Javier Martinez-Acha Vasquez on Thursday, ends a period of diplomatic tension and allows Martinelli to avoid a prison sentence for money laundering.

Martinelli, 73, had previously been granted asylum by Nicaragua and has been residing in the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City since February 2024, in an effort to avoid arrest. While the Foreign Minister cited health concerns as the primary reason for granting safe passage, he did not disclose specifics.

Martinelli exhausted all appeals in his case after being sentenced in 2023 to 10 years in prison and fined $19 million for money laundering. The conviction effectively ended his political career, barring him from running in the 2024 presidential race due to Panama’s constitutional restrictions on those with criminal sentences of five years or more. Prior to the ruling, Martinelli was considered a leading candidate.

Martinelli has consistently maintained his innocence. Prosecutors, however, successfully argued that during his presidency from 2009 to 2014, he used his influence to award government contracts to companies that then funneled money to an organization called “New Business.” Prosecutors alleged that “New Business” was a front company used by Martinelli to acquire a publishing business that controlled national newspapers.

The “New Business” scandal was one of several controversies Martinelli faced after leaving office. He and his two sons, Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares and Ricardo Martinelli Linares, have also been implicated in the Odebrecht scandal, an international corruption case that has implicated leaders across Latin America.

A former supermarket entrepreneur and a popular figure on the right-wing, Martinelli has remained active on social media while residing in the Nicaraguan embassy, communicating with his supporters.

Until Thursday’s announcement, the Panamanian government had refused his request to leave the country. In the days leading up to the decision, Martinelli had expressed concerns that he might be intercepted by Panamanian police.

Martinelli has until midnight on March 31 to depart Panama for Nicaragua.