Nicaragua Cuts Diplomatic Relations with Italy Over Extradition Dispute

Nicaragua has officially severed diplomatic relations with Italy, escalating a decades-long dispute over the extradition of former Red Brigades member Alessio Casimirri, who has lived in the Central American country for more than four decades.

The Nicaraguan government announced the decision on Thursday through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stating that the move was prompted by recent comments from Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who renewed calls for Casimirri to be extradited to Italy to face justice.

Tajani had criticized Nicaragua for continuing to shelter the Italian-born fugitive, describing the situation as unacceptable. He insisted that individuals convicted of serious crimes should not be protected from prosecution, regardless of where they reside.

Responding to Nicaragua’s decision to cut diplomatic ties, Italy’s Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its position, maintaining that Casimirri should be extradited to serve his sentence. The Italian government has consistently argued that granting protection to a convicted criminal undermines international justice and accountability.

The dispute centres on Casimirri’s alleged involvement in one of Italy’s most traumatic political crimes—the 1978 kidnapping and killing of former Prime Minister Aldo Moro.

Moro, a prominent leader of Italy’s Christian Democratic Party and a former prime minister, was abducted by the far-left militant group known as the Red Brigades in March 1978. The group demanded the release of imprisoned members in exchange for his freedom, but after weeks of captivity, Moro was found dead inside the trunk of a car in Rome, an event that shocked Italy and remains one of the darkest chapters in the country’s modern history.

Casimirri fled Italy in 1983 and settled in Nicaragua during the rule of the Sandinista government. He was granted Nicaraguan citizenship in 1989, married a Nicaraguan citizen, and later established an Italian restaurant in the capital, Managua.

Although Casimirri has acknowledged being a member of the Red Brigades during Italy’s turbulent “Years of Lead,” he has consistently denied taking part in the attack that resulted in Moro’s death.

Italy has spent decades seeking his extradition, but repeated efforts have failed due to legal and constitutional barriers in Nicaragua.

In 1993, Nicaraguan authorities attempted to revoke Casimirri’s citizenship. However, the country’s Supreme Court later ruled that citizenship could only be withdrawn through judicial proceedings, effectively restoring his legal status.

Nicaragua’s Constitution also prohibits the extradition of its own citizens, creating another major obstacle to Italy’s longstanding request. Additionally, the two countries do not have a bilateral extradition treaty, further complicating any legal process to transfer Casimirri to Italy.

The breakdown in diplomatic relations marks a significant deterioration in ties between the two nations and highlights the continuing international implications of a case that has remained unresolved for nearly five decades.

While Italy continues to pursue accountability over the Aldo Moro case, Nicaragua has maintained that its constitutional framework prevents the extradition of its citizens, leaving the decades-old legal and diplomatic standoff at an impasse.