Nicaragua cuts diplomatic ties with Italy over Red Brigades fugitive

Managua, Nicaragua. Nicaragua has broken diplomatic relations with Italy following a dispute over its decision to grant citizenship to Alessio Casimirri, a former Red Brigades militant convicted in the 1978 killing of Italian former Prime Minister Aldo Moro.

Diplomatic dispute

Nicaragua’s foreign ministry said Thursday that the decision was prompted by comments from Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who criticized the Central American country for harboring Casimirri.

Tajani questioned Nicaragua’s decision to grant citizenship to Casimirri, a former member of the far-left Red Brigades.

Italy calls for extradition

Italy’s foreign ministry, asked for comment, reiterated Tajani’s call for Casimirri to be extradited.

“We tell Nicaragua that granting immunity to a criminal is unacceptable,” Tajani said.

Moro assassination

Moro, a former prime minister and leader of Italy’s Christian Democrats, was kidnapped by the Red Brigades in March 1978.

The group demanded the release of imprisoned members in exchange for his safety. Moro was found dead in the trunk of a car about two months later.