Martinelli’s Transfer to Nicaragua amid Doubts and Diplomatic Clashes

The former president is expected to leave for Nicaragua today, while the red alert request filed by Judge Baloísa Marquínez becomes an impediment to his acceptance by the Central American country.  The Nicaraguan Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in an official statement that it would not be able to receive former President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) until Interpol clarifies the procedure for issuing a red alert against the former president.  “Given that a Panamanian State Communiqué has been released containing decisions by the highest judicial authority regarding the cases of former President Ricardo Martinelli, and that the latter has requested his arrest from Interpol, the Government of the Republic of Nicaragua hereby informs that until the situation is clarified, it is not possible to receive the former president in Nicaragua,” states the official statement from the Nicaraguan government, addressed to the Panamanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MIRE). 

Hours before this statement was made public, MIRE stated in another statement that no Interpol red alert could prevent the former president from traveling.  For its part, Interpol had not issued any communication regarding the red alert issued against the former president. And as of press time, the Nicaraguan government had not issued a position different from the one in the statement.  A red alert request process against former President Ricardo Martinelli was initiated by Judge Baloísa Marquínez at the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).  Yesterday morning, National Police Director Jaime Fernández referred to the existence of this alert received by the security establishment from the international organization. It was later clarified that Interpol was still processing the request, which arrived last Friday. 

Amid the uproar, the police later issued a statement confirming that the request had been rejected.  “We have rejected the processing of this notification because it does not comply with the parameters established by Interpol since 2014 and reaffirmed in 2017, which prohibit the issuance of red alerts for citizens who are refugees or political asylum seekers,” the police said in a statement.  Luis Eduardo Camacho, a representative from the Realizando Metas (RM) party, spoke out about the possible measure. “Political asylum seekers cannot be placed on red alert, and I know several,” he emphasized.  He also pointed out, that this issue has not been addressed in the best possible or most responsible manner.  If the alert requested by Marquínez is approved, member countries will be notified to be on alert.  At press time, the Nicaraguan government had not issued a statement regarding the National Police’s decision to reject the Interpol application.