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Former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli has arrived in Colombia after being granted asylum, ending a 15-month diplomatic standoff that began when he sought refuge in Nicaragua's embassy to avoid serving an 11-year prison sentence for money laundering.
The Panamanian government confirmed in a statement that it had "granted the necessary safe conduct" to ensure the "safe departure of the asylum seeker, Panamanian citizen Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Berrocal," to Colombia.
Martinelli, 73, announced his arrival in Bogotá late Saturday with an Instagram post showing himself in the Colombian capital.
"Happy and content," the former president wrote, marking the end of his prolonged confinement in the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City.
The former supermarket tycoon who led Panama from 2009 to 2014 was convicted in 2023 of using stolen public funds to purchase a stake in a publishing company. Throughout the legal proceedings, Martinelli has maintained that he is the victim of political persecution.
His case took a dramatic turn in February 2024 when he sought protection in the Nicaraguan embassy, just before authorities were set to arrest him.
This move triggered a complex diplomatic situation that remained unresolved for more than a year.
Before seeking asylum, polls had shown Martinelli leading in Panama's May 2024 presidential race.
However, his legal troubles ultimately forced his disqualification from the ballot. His running mate, José Raúl Mulino, replaced him as the candidate and went on to win the election.
After taking office, President Mulino granted Martinelli safe passage to Nicaragua in March.
However, complications arose when the Nicaraguan government refused to accept Martinelli, citing concerns that Panama could not guarantee the absence of an international Interpol arrest warrant against the former president.
The Colombian government's decision to grant asylum appears to have resolved the diplomatic impasse, allowing Martinelli to leave the embassy compound where he had remained confined since early 2024.
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