Clash between Italia and Nicaragua: everything you need to know about the Casimirri case
A terrorist and former member of the Red Brigades, who was also involved in the kidnapping and murder of Aldo Moro, fled Italia in 1982 and sought refuge in Nicaragua. Italy has repeatedly requested his extradition. The Nicaraguan government has consistently refused.
Italia and Nicaragua are at loggerheads over a terrorist, a former Red Brigades militant: Alessio Casimirri. “Italia will continue to demand that Casimirri face justice in Italy for the crimes of which he has been found guilty,” emphasised Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. The message was addressed to Managua. Casimirri fled Italia in 1982 and sought refuge in Nicaragua. Italia has repeatedly requested his extradition. The Nicaraguan government has consistently refused, citing the citizenship he has acquired.
He played a part in the kidnapping of Aldo Moro
A former member of the Red Brigades, Casimirri also played a role in the kidnapping and murder of Aldo Moro. Unlike other Red Brigades members involved in the Moro kidnapping, Casimirri never served a single day in prison. Sentenced to life imprisonment in Italia in 1988, the Ministry of Justice formally requested the Nicaraguan authorities to extradite the fugitive that same year, but to no avail. Meanwhile, Casimirri had acquired Nicaraguan citizenship, and Rome’s request – reiterated and resubmitted several times over the decades – met with no success, partly because the Nicaraguan Constitution does not permit the extradition of its own citizens.
In the Central American country, he took part in the Sandinista guerrilla movement against the Contras, obtained Nicaraguan citizenship and set up a number of businesses (including seafood restaurants in Managua).
The diplomatic rift
In the last few hours, Tajani has strongly reiterated the request for extradition, describing as unacceptable the protection offered by the local government to a man convicted of the Via Fani massacre. The Nicaraguan government reacted immediately, announcing the decision to sever all diplomatic relations with Italy.
