Key Takeaways
• Ricardo Martinelli granted political asylum in Colombia after 15 months in Nicaraguan embassy.
• Panama’s government finally issued safe passage; Martinelli now faces ongoing investigations in Spain and Panama.
• Colombia justified asylum using the pro persona principle amidst diplomatic tensions in Latin America.
Ricardo Martinelli, former President of Panama 🇵🇦, has been granted political asylum in Colombia 🇨🇴. This move ends a long and difficult period of uncertainty for Martinelli, who spent over a year living inside the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City. The story has caught the attention of people in Panama 🇵🇦, Colombia 🇨🇴, and anyone watching immigration issues across Latin America.
Martinelli’s case is not only about one person’s legal troubles. It connects to larger questions of how countries grant political asylum, what happens at the intersection of politics and law, and how actions taken at the highest levels of government can affect regular people, businesses, and even international relations. Let’s break down what happened, why it matters, and what it could mean for the future.
Martinelli: From President to Prisoner
Martinelli became president of Panama 🇵🇦 in 2009, serving until 2014. He was already well-known as a businessman before his time in office, running a popular supermarket chain. Many in Panama 🇵🇦 remember his term for fast economic growth, big building projects, and especially the expansion of the Panama Canal. The canal is one of the world’s busiest shipping routes and a key asset for the country.
But Martinelli’s time as president was not free from trouble. There were reports of bribery and large amounts of money paid for projects. These were sometimes much more expensive than expected. The expansion of the Panama Canal, while important, also faced such questions. After leaving office, Martinelli was charged with crimes. In 2023, courts in Panama 🇵🇦 found him guilty of laundering money. This means he was found to have used illegal funds to buy part of a major publishing company in Panama 🇵🇦. The case was called “New Business.”
The verdict carried heavy consequences. Martinelli was sentenced to almost eleven years in prison. He also lost the chance to run for public office in Panama 🇵🇦 in the future. He has always claimed he is not guilty and that he is the target of political persecution. The courts in Panama 🇵🇦, however, did not accept these explanations and kept his conviction in place.
In January 2023, the United States 🇺🇸 also added to Martinelli’s troubles. He was sanctioned for corruption, further damaging his reputation in the region.
The Search for Asylum: Living in Limbo
The legal pressure in Panama 🇵🇦 kept building after Martinelli’s conviction. As the courts prepared to put him in prison, Martinelli took a step seen before with other politicians facing jail: he sought protection in a foreign embassy. In February 2024, just before police could arrest him, he went to the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City. He asked for political asylum. Political asylum is a special protection a country gives to someone who says they are in danger in their own country, often for political reasons. Nicaragua 🇳🇮, under President Daniel Ortega, agreed and gave him asylum.
Yet, getting asylum doesn’t always mean you can leave right away. For more than 15 months, Martinelli was stuck. He could not leave the embassy building without the risk of arrest. The Panamanian government would need to sign a safe passage agreement—a paper saying they would let him leave the country safely. The then-president, Laurentino Cortizo, refused to give Martinelli safe passage in February 2024. As a result, Martinelli lived for months in a legal and personal limbo, unable to go free, yet safe from arrest for the time being.
There were efforts to resolve this. After José Raúl Mulino won the 2024 presidential elections in Panama 🇵🇦—very soon after replacing Martinelli as the leading candidate—rumors grew that things might change. In March 2025, the Panamanian government okayed safe passage to let Martinelli leave for Nicaragua 🇳🇮. But, for reasons that were not publicly explained, this journey never happened.
Finally, in May 2025, Martinelli was told he could travel—not to Nicaragua 🇳🇮, but to Colombia 🇨🇴 instead. His flight took off on Saturday, May 10, 2025, ending over a year inside the Nicaraguan embassy.
Colombia 🇨🇴 Grants Asylum
Colombia 🇨🇴, led by President Gustavo Petro, confirmed Martinelli’s arrival and the decision to grant him asylum. The Colombian government said that their choice was based on “the pro persona principle and Colombia’s humanist tradition.” In simple words, this means that when deciding tough immigration or asylum cases, Colombia 🇨🇴 gives priority to protecting the person who claims to be in danger, especially if there are concerns about political persecution.
Martinelli himself posted about his arrival in Bogotá, Colombia’s capital, on social media. He thanked President Petro and the Colombian government for their decision.
The move was not only about humanitarian reasons. It also ended a diplomatic standoff that had lasted since Martinelli’s conviction. There had been tension between Panama 🇵🇦 and Nicaragua 🇳🇮, since each government followed its own policies and had different interests. Colombia’s decision, then, was important not only for Martinelli personally but also for regional cooperation.
Political Effects in Panama 🇵🇦
Martinelli’s arrest, trial, and eventual asylum in Colombia 🇨🇴 shaped politics in Panama 🇵🇦. At one stage, he was the most popular candidate for the May 2024 presidential election. But because of Panama’s constitution, people found guilty of certain crimes cannot run for president. His conviction forced him out of the race.
His party moved quickly. José Raúl Mulino, who had been Martinelli’s running mate, stepped in and became the party’s main candidate. Mulino went on to win the presidency. As the new president, he made the decision that finally allowed Martinelli to leave Panama 🇵🇦, granting him official safe passage. For supporters, it looked like a show of loyalty; for critics, it sparked questions about whether politics was interfering with the justice system.
Other Legal Troubles Remain
Martinelli’s legal challenges are not over just because he is now in Colombia 🇨🇴. He faces fresh investigations in several places:
- In Spain 🇪🇸, there are open cases involving claims of bribery and illegal wiretapping related to Mallorca, a Spanish island.
- Panama 🇵🇦 has also tied Martinelli to the Odebrecht scandal. Odebrecht is a Brazilian company that admitted to paying bribes in many countries to win building contracts. This scandal has hurt many political leaders in Latin America 🇦🇷🇧🇷🇨🇴🇵🇦🇵🇪.
Martinelli’s story shows how complex cross-border law enforcement can be. Even when someone gets asylum in one country, they may face extradition or legal trouble if they travel elsewhere or if the country that gave asylum changes its mind in the future.
What Is Political Asylum?
This case helps to explain how political asylum works in Latin America and across the world. Political asylum protects people who say they are being treated unfairly, threatened, or could be punished for their political beliefs or actions in their home country. Countries make their own decisions about whether to give asylum. They look at:
- Whether the person is really at risk
- If the punishment or charges are real crimes or mostly political
- The country’s own laws and policies on human rights
Someone given political asylum cannot be sent back to their own country if there is a real risk of harm. Asylum is also a promise of safety, though it does not mean the person is automatically free from prosecution elsewhere.
For more on the process of political asylum and how it works from a government perspective, the official Colombian Migration page has up-to-date information.
Impact on Immigrants, Governments, and the Region
Martinelli’s story affects more than just politicians or wealthy business owners. Here’s why:
- Immigrants and Asylum Seekers: The case shows that it is not only everyday people who seek asylum when they feel unsafe at home. Powerful people sometimes use the same system. But for most asylum seekers—who are not famous and do not have political connections—the process can be much longer and harder.
- Governments: The decision by Panama 🇵🇦 to give safe passage, and by Colombia 🇨🇴 to give asylum, highlights how much power governments have in these cases. They balance legal duties, international promises, and their own interests.
- International Law: Countries are supposed to respect asylum based on agreements they have signed. But political interests often shape how strictly these rules are applied—or if they are applied at all.
- Business and Stability: The Panama Canal, expanded during Martinelli’s presidency, is crucial for trade globally. Political events in Panama 🇵🇦, including turmoil around former leaders, can make investors nervous and affect this vital shipping route.
A Story with No Clear Ending
Martinelli’s asylum in Colombia 🇨🇴 is not the end of his story. He is away from Panama 🇵🇦 but still faces legal threats. He has not escaped public attention. In fact, some say that granting him asylum could inspire more legal and political disputes between countries in the future. Others point out that this could set a model for how to solve complicated political cases peacefully, using international law instead of only force or punishment.
The reaction in Panama 🇵🇦 has been mixed. Some people feel the decision to let Martinelli go to Colombia 🇨🇴 was the right call—ending a diplomatic freeze and letting the country move forward. Others are angry, saying he escaped justice thanks to help from friends in power.
Key Points to Remember
- Ricardo Martinelli was president of Panama 🇵🇦 and oversaw major projects, including the Panama Canal expansion.
- He was convicted of using stolen money (money laundering) to buy media influence and was sentenced to nearly 11 years in prison.
- Facing arrest, he took refuge in the Nicaraguan embassy and was granted political asylum by Nicaragua 🇳🇮, but could not leave due to Panama’s refusal to approve safe passage.
- A change in leadership in Panama 🇵🇦 led to safe passage being granted, allowing Martinelli to travel to Colombia 🇨🇴, which offered him asylum.
- Legal challenges continue for Martinelli, both in Panama 🇵🇦 and abroad.
- This situation highlights the complex links between law, politics, and human rights in the region.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, cases like Martinelli’s show the importance of having clear, fair, and transparent rules for political asylum. They also remind us how powerful leaders can affect, and be affected by, the same laws that guide the lives of everyday people. For now, Ricardo Martinelli starts a new chapter in Colombia 🇨🇴, but his past—and Panama’s politics—will surely keep him in the headlines.
For those seeking more information about immigration, asylum, or related legal processes, always consult official government sources, such as the Colombian Migration Authority, to get the most updated and accurate advice.
Learn Today
Political Asylum → Legal protection offered to individuals fearing persecution in their home country, often for political beliefs or actions.
Safe Passage → Official authorization allowing someone facing legal or political risk to travel safely between countries without arrest.
Pro Persona Principle → A human rights approach prioritizing individual protection in legal decisions, especially when there’s risk of political persecution.
Money Laundering → Hiding the origins of illegally obtained money by transferring it through legitimate businesses or transactions.
Odebrecht Scandal → A large corruption case involving bribes from the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht to officials throughout Latin America.
This Article in a Nutshell
Former Panamanian president Ricardo Martinelli escaped imminent imprisonment after Colombia granted him political asylum in May 2025. Following over a year sheltered in Panama City’s Nicaraguan embassy, Martinelli’s transfer to Bogotá highlights how high-profile asylum cases intertwine legal, political, and international factors—impacting justice, diplomacy, and future regional approaches to political persecution.
— By VisaVerge.com
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