The Panama Government said Thursday that it has decided to recognize the asylum that Nicaragua awarded to the former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelliso he granted him a safe -conduct to travel to that country.
Martinelli, 73, has remained at the Nicaraguan embassy since February last year After receiving asylum from the government of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega.
“This asylum is recognized and the safe -conduct is granted for strictly humanitarian causes“said Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Facha, at a brief press conference.
The former president, who ruled between 2009 and 2014, took refuge in the diplomatic headquarters after the Supreme Court of Justice of Panama confirmed a sentence of more than 10 years for corruption during his mandate.
In the afternoon, Martinelli said in a message on his Instagram account that he accepted the safe -conduct that the government of President José Raúl Mulino has granted him and reiterated his innocence.
“Today with my son, my family and my relatives I have made the decision to accept the safe -conduct as political asylum”he said, pointing out that he will wait peacefully and attending to his health the decision of justice.
Martinelli’s lawyers did not respond immediately to a request for comments by Reuters to specify the former president’s plans.
In the press conference, andThe Panamanian Chancellor considered that the safe -conduct will allow Martinelli to continue his defense in more favorable conditions than the current ones and access, in freedom“to outpatient treatment that significantly improves its quality of life.”
The official explained that the safe -conduct for the former president will be in force until March 31.
Due to the condemnation of the Supreme Court, Martinelli could not participate in the presidential elections in which he was a Mulino winner.
