Former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli Flees To Colombia After Year-Long Embassy Refuge

Former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli has left the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City—where he had sought refuge for over a year—and has now headed to Colombia after receiving political asylum, Panama’s government announced late Saturday.

In an official statement, Panama’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that Colombian President Gustavo Petro had sent a formal diplomatic note to Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, notifying him of the decision to grant Martinelli asylum. Panama, in turn, authorized safe passage for the former leader to travel to Colombia.

“The Republic of Colombia has historically recognized and upheld the institutions of International Law, including the asylum system within the Inter-American framework,” the statement emphasized.

Martinelli, 73, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for money laundering in July 2023, related to the purchase of a publishing company. After his conviction was upheld, he sought protection in the Nicaraguan diplomatic mission in Panama City. Nicaragua’s government, led by President Daniel Ortega, had granted him asylum, but he remained holed up inside the embassy for more than a year after Panama refused to allow his safe transfer to Nicaragua.

A businessman and supermarket tycoon, Martinelli served as Panama’s president from 2009 to 2014, overseeing a period of robust economic growth fueled by major infrastructure projects such as the region’s first metro system and the expansion of the Panama Canal. However, his presidency was marred by allegations of corruption, including bribery scandals and massive cost overruns. In January 2023, the United States sanctioned Martinelli for corruption.

Martinelli has consistently claimed that his legal troubles were politically motivated, especially as he pursued a return to the presidency. In 2023, he secured his party’s nomination for the 2024 presidential election, but his hopes were dashed after the Supreme Court upheld his money laundering conviction, making him ineligible to run. He ultimately threw his support behind his running mate, José Raúl Mulino, who is now Panama’s president.

Although Nicaragua granted Martinelli asylum in February 2024, Panama blocked any attempt to move him there. The Colombian government had remained silent on the issue—until now.