Nicaragua

Panama Grants Former President Safe Conduct to Nicaragua

MAR 28 2025·Updated MAR 30 2025

Story

Above: Supporters of Ricardo Martinelli take part in a protest outside the Nicaraguan embassy where he is seeking asylum in Panama City, March 27, 2025. Image credit: Martin Bernetti/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images

The Facts

Panama's Foreign Affairs Minister Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez announced on Thursday that a letter of safe conduct had been granted to former President Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal to allow him to travel to Nicaragua until March 31, citing health concerns and humanitarian reasons.
Newsroom Panama
Havana Times
It's unclear when and if exactly the transfer will occur, as Martinelli said he and his legal team were analyzing the announcement. Earlier, Martinelli claimed an alleged assault on Nicaragua's embassy in Panama despite reports that there were only two police pickup trucks outside the building.
Havana Times
The Associated Press
The 73-year-old supermarket magnate who governed Panama from 2009 to 2014 has been inside the embassy since Nicaragua granted him political asylum in February 2024. He sought to avoid arrest after exhausting all appeals to annul a money laundering conviction.
The Associated Press
Reuters
In 2023, Martinelli was fined and sentenced to prison for using his influence to award government contracts to an alleged front company. He has also been accused of involvement in Latin America's Odebrecht scandal and the spyware Pegasus scandal.
Al Jazeera
El Faro
This conviction disqualified Martinelli from the presidential election last year despite being the front-runner in polls. Last month, his running mate, José Raúl Mulino — who replaced him and won the vote — said he would discuss safe conduct for Martinelli in a meeting with Nicaragua's ambassador to Panama.
The Associated Press
Barrons
Panama has been a refuge for Guatemala's former President Jorge Serrano Elías since he tried to dissolve Congress in 1993. Nicaragua granted asylum to El Salvador's late Mauricio Funes and Salvador Sánchez.
Reuters
El Faro
Wsj

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

It's disgraceful that Daniel Ortega's regime has made Nicaragua a haven for former presidents escaping from justice in their own countries. Martinelli is set to become the latest to flee to the country to live free despite being sentenced to prison. As for Panama, it's very convenient for Mulino to grant his mentor safe conduct.

Divergentes

Narrative B

Countries in the Western Hemisphere have long agreed to conventions on asylum and political asylum that recognize this practice as a humanitarian institution and that all persons may be under its protection. Therefore, it's only natural that Panama has finally granted Martinelli safe conduct to Nicaragua.

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