Latest news with #ConventiononPoliticalAsylum
Epoch Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Colombia Grants Political Asylum to Former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli
Colombia granted political asylum to former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli, who left the Nicaraguan Embassy in Panama on Saturday, where he had been sheltering since February 2024. The Colombian Foreign Ministry in a statement that the decision was 'duly communicated' by President Gustavo Petro Urrego to the Panamanian government. The decision was 'based on the observance of the pro persona principle and Colombia's humanist tradition of protecting persons persecuted for political reasons,' the Colombian government added. After Martinelli was given asylum, the Panamanian government him safe passage for his 'prompt and safe departure' from the country to Colombia. The Panamanian Foreign Ministry justified the safe passage granted to Martinelli by citing the 1933 Convention on Political Asylum. It also specified in a statement that Martinelli left 'in a diplomatic car from the Embassy of the Republic of Nicaragua in Panama City and then by plane bound for the territory of the Republic of Colombia.' Martinelli, who was president of Panama between 2009 and 2014, thanked the Colombian government for its decision. Related Stories 3/23/2025 4/16/2025 'Happy and content because I am now in Bogotá, where I have been granted political asylum as a political refugee,' Martinelli, 73, 'Thank you very much to the Colombian government and President Gustavo Petro for granting me political asylum.' Martinelli also said he was 'eternally grateful' to the Nicaraguan government for granting him asylum for 16 months in its embassy. 'Thanks to them, I was able to save my life,' he said. Colombian Interior Minister Armando Benedetti Monday that the basis for the asylum granted by his country to Martinelli, who arrived in Bogotá on on May 10, must be reviewed. He said 'asylum has little to do with judicial issues' in an interview with Caracol Radio. Martinelli, who is also a businessman, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for money laundering in July 2023 in connection with the purchase of a publishing group with public funds. He also faced charges in a separate case for alleged bribery and other allegations. After the sentence was handed down, the former president sought refuge in the Nicaraguan diplomatic mission in Panama, after the government of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega granted him asylum. He remained in the embassy for more than a year. Martinelli's previous request for safe passage out of the country was denied by the former Panamanian government, which warned that Ortega's government was trying to influence Panama's internal politics from the Nicaraguan diplomatic headquarters. EFE and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Advertiser
11-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Panama's ex-president departs for asylum in Colombia
Colombia has granted asylum to Panama's former president Ricardo Martinelli, who has departed the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City for Colombia, the Panamanian government says. Martinelli, who was sentenced to more than a decade in prison in Panama for money laundering, has been living in the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City since February 2024, after Panama's Supreme Court confirmed his sentence. Panamanian authorities said in a statement they offered the ex-president safe passage from the embassy to a local airport in "full compliance with the obligations set forth in the 1928 Convention on Asylum and the 1933 Convention on Political Asylum". Colombia's foreign ministry said the granting of asylum to Martinelli was "part of Colombia's humanist tradition of protecting people who are persecuted for political reasons". Martinelli is a businessman and supermarket magnate who governed Panama from 2009 to 2014, a period of rapid economic growth driven by the construction of major projects such as the first metro in Central America and the expansion of the interoceanic canal. But his government was tainted by accusations of bribery and cost overruns. He was sanctioned by the United States for corruption in January 2023. Martinelli maintains his prosecution was politically motivated as he sought to run for a second term of office. In 2023, he won his party's nomination to seek the presidency again. However, he was convicted of money laundering, and after the Supreme Court denied his appeal, he was ineligible to run. Ultimately, Martinelli supported his running mate, current President Jose Raul Mulino. With AP and EFE Colombia has granted asylum to Panama's former president Ricardo Martinelli, who has departed the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City for Colombia, the Panamanian government says. Martinelli, who was sentenced to more than a decade in prison in Panama for money laundering, has been living in the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City since February 2024, after Panama's Supreme Court confirmed his sentence. Panamanian authorities said in a statement they offered the ex-president safe passage from the embassy to a local airport in "full compliance with the obligations set forth in the 1928 Convention on Asylum and the 1933 Convention on Political Asylum". Colombia's foreign ministry said the granting of asylum to Martinelli was "part of Colombia's humanist tradition of protecting people who are persecuted for political reasons". Martinelli is a businessman and supermarket magnate who governed Panama from 2009 to 2014, a period of rapid economic growth driven by the construction of major projects such as the first metro in Central America and the expansion of the interoceanic canal. But his government was tainted by accusations of bribery and cost overruns. He was sanctioned by the United States for corruption in January 2023. Martinelli maintains his prosecution was politically motivated as he sought to run for a second term of office. In 2023, he won his party's nomination to seek the presidency again. However, he was convicted of money laundering, and after the Supreme Court denied his appeal, he was ineligible to run. Ultimately, Martinelli supported his running mate, current President Jose Raul Mulino. With AP and EFE Colombia has granted asylum to Panama's former president Ricardo Martinelli, who has departed the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City for Colombia, the Panamanian government says. Martinelli, who was sentenced to more than a decade in prison in Panama for money laundering, has been living in the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City since February 2024, after Panama's Supreme Court confirmed his sentence. Panamanian authorities said in a statement they offered the ex-president safe passage from the embassy to a local airport in "full compliance with the obligations set forth in the 1928 Convention on Asylum and the 1933 Convention on Political Asylum". Colombia's foreign ministry said the granting of asylum to Martinelli was "part of Colombia's humanist tradition of protecting people who are persecuted for political reasons". Martinelli is a businessman and supermarket magnate who governed Panama from 2009 to 2014, a period of rapid economic growth driven by the construction of major projects such as the first metro in Central America and the expansion of the interoceanic canal. But his government was tainted by accusations of bribery and cost overruns. He was sanctioned by the United States for corruption in January 2023. Martinelli maintains his prosecution was politically motivated as he sought to run for a second term of office. In 2023, he won his party's nomination to seek the presidency again. However, he was convicted of money laundering, and after the Supreme Court denied his appeal, he was ineligible to run. Ultimately, Martinelli supported his running mate, current President Jose Raul Mulino. With AP and EFE Colombia has granted asylum to Panama's former president Ricardo Martinelli, who has departed the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City for Colombia, the Panamanian government says. Martinelli, who was sentenced to more than a decade in prison in Panama for money laundering, has been living in the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City since February 2024, after Panama's Supreme Court confirmed his sentence. Panamanian authorities said in a statement they offered the ex-president safe passage from the embassy to a local airport in "full compliance with the obligations set forth in the 1928 Convention on Asylum and the 1933 Convention on Political Asylum". Colombia's foreign ministry said the granting of asylum to Martinelli was "part of Colombia's humanist tradition of protecting people who are persecuted for political reasons". Martinelli is a businessman and supermarket magnate who governed Panama from 2009 to 2014, a period of rapid economic growth driven by the construction of major projects such as the first metro in Central America and the expansion of the interoceanic canal. But his government was tainted by accusations of bribery and cost overruns. He was sanctioned by the United States for corruption in January 2023. Martinelli maintains his prosecution was politically motivated as he sought to run for a second term of office. In 2023, he won his party's nomination to seek the presidency again. However, he was convicted of money laundering, and after the Supreme Court denied his appeal, he was ineligible to run. Ultimately, Martinelli supported his running mate, current President Jose Raul Mulino. With AP and EFE
AsiaOne
11-05-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
Panama's ex-president Martinelli departs for asylum in Colombia, World News
PANAMA CITY - Colombia granted asylum to Panama's former President Ricardo Martinelli, Colombian authorities said on Saturday (May 10), and two sources close to the ex-president said that he had departed the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City for Colombia. Martinelli, who was sentenced to over a decade in prison in Panama for money laundering, has been living in the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City since February last year, after Panama's Supreme Court confirmed his sentence. Panamanian authorities said in a statement that they offered the ex-president safe passage from the embassy to a local airport in "full compliance with the obligations set forth in the 1928 Convention on Asylum and the 1933 Convention on Political Asylum." Colombia's foreign ministry said the granting of asylum to Martinelli was "part of Colombia's humanist tradition of protecting people who are persecuted for political reasons." [[nid:717293]]
West Australian
11-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Panama's ex-president departs for asylum in Colombia
Colombia has granted asylum to Panama's former president Ricardo Martinelli, who has departed the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City for Colombia, the Panamanian government says. Martinelli, who was sentenced to more than a decade in prison in Panama for money laundering, has been living in the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City since February 2024, after Panama's Supreme Court confirmed his sentence. Panamanian authorities said in a statement they offered the ex-president safe passage from the embassy to a local airport in "full compliance with the obligations set forth in the 1928 Convention on Asylum and the 1933 Convention on Political Asylum". Colombia's foreign ministry said the granting of asylum to Martinelli was "part of Colombia's humanist tradition of protecting people who are persecuted for political reasons". Martinelli is a businessman and supermarket magnate who governed Panama from 2009 to 2014, a period of rapid economic growth driven by the construction of major projects such as the first metro in Central America and the expansion of the interoceanic canal. But his government was tainted by accusations of bribery and cost overruns. He was sanctioned by the United States for corruption in January 2023. Martinelli maintains his prosecution was politically motivated as he sought to run for a second term of office. In 2023, he won his party's nomination to seek the presidency again. However, he was convicted of money laundering, and after the Supreme Court denied his appeal, he was ineligible to run. Ultimately, Martinelli supported his running mate, current President Jose Raul Mulino. With AP and EFE
Perth Now
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Panama's ex-president departs for asylum in Colombia
Colombia has granted asylum to Panama's former president Ricardo Martinelli, who has departed the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City for Colombia, the Panamanian government says. Martinelli, who was sentenced to more than a decade in prison in Panama for money laundering, has been living in the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City since February 2024, after Panama's Supreme Court confirmed his sentence. Panamanian authorities said in a statement they offered the ex-president safe passage from the embassy to a local airport in "full compliance with the obligations set forth in the 1928 Convention on Asylum and the 1933 Convention on Political Asylum". Colombia's foreign ministry said the granting of asylum to Martinelli was "part of Colombia's humanist tradition of protecting people who are persecuted for political reasons". Martinelli is a businessman and supermarket magnate who governed Panama from 2009 to 2014, a period of rapid economic growth driven by the construction of major projects such as the first metro in Central America and the expansion of the interoceanic canal. But his government was tainted by accusations of bribery and cost overruns. He was sanctioned by the United States for corruption in January 2023. Martinelli maintains his prosecution was politically motivated as he sought to run for a second term of office. In 2023, he won his party's nomination to seek the presidency again. However, he was convicted of money laundering, and after the Supreme Court denied his appeal, he was ineligible to run. Ultimately, Martinelli supported his running mate, current President Jose Raul Mulino. With AP and EFE
