Former Panamanian President Martinelli granted asylum in Nicaragua. The Supreme Court of Panama recently rejected Martinelli's appeal and upheld a 2023 verdict against him on money laundering charges.
Martinelli faces more than 10 years in prison and will be disqualified from running for president. Currently, he is waiting for the opportunity to safely leave the country at the Nicaraguan Embassy in Panama. He requested asylum on the grounds of "political persecution and imminent danger to his life," the statement said. The Associated Press reported that Nicaragua’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the 7th confirming that Martinelli had been provided asylum.