Martinelli thanks Petro for granting him political asylum in Colombia: "A thousand thanks to the Colombian government."
Former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli publicly thanked President Gustavo Petro for granting him political asylum. In a post on his X account, Martinelli highlighted his arrival in Bogotá after having spent 16 months in asylum in the Nicaraguan embassy, a country to which he also expressed his gratitude.
"Happy and content to be back in Bogotá, where I received political asylum as a political refugee. A thousand thanks to the Colombian government and President Gustavo Petro for granting me this political asylum," the former president wrote this Saturday.
Former President Ricardo Martinelli in X. Photo: Screenshot X: @rmartinelli.
The Colombian Foreign Ministry also issued a statement on the case. In an official statement, it stated: "The President of the Republic, Gustavo Petro Urrego , granted political asylum to the former President of Panama, Mr. Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Berrocal, a decision that was duly communicated to the government of the neighboring country." It also explained that this measure was taken "in observance of the pro persona principle and Colombia's humanist tradition of protecting persons persecuted for political reasons."
Foreign Ministry statement. Photo: X: X @rmartinelli
The former president also acknowledged the support of the Nicaraguan government, led by Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, as he spent 16 months in asylum in their embassy . "Thanks to them, I was able to save my life. I will be eternally grateful," he wrote.
Martinelli faces several lawsuits in Panama for corruption, but has repeatedly asserted that this is a political persecution.
LATEST NEWS EDITORIAL
eltiempo
