Argentina: Court issues arrest warrant for Christina Kirchner Dec. 7

Event

On Thursday, December 7, an Argentine court issued an arrest warrant for former president Christina Fernandez de Kirchner for alleged treason and obstruction of justice in relation to an investigation over a 1994 terrorist attack. However, the Argentine Senate will have to vote to lift Kirchner's immunity before the arrest warrant can be executed; it is currently unclear when this could take place. According to local sources, arrest warrants were also issued for former Minister of Foreign Affairs Hector Timermann, and several other former high-ranking officials.

Protests by Kirchner supporters, and associated transportation disruptions, are possible in Buenos Aires in the coming days.

Context

On July 18, 1994, suspected Islamic militants with alleged ties to Hezbollah and Iran carried out an attack in Buenos Aires, setting off explosives in front of the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association building, killing 85 people and injuring over 300 others. Kirchner's administration has been accused of covering up Iran's alleged involvement in the bombing. In 2015, federal prosecutor Alberto Nisman re-opened an investigation into the 1994 bombing, but was found dead hours before testifying in Congress. The death was reported as a suicide, although official investigations ruled it as a potential homicide.

Advice

Individuals Buenos Aires, and Argentina more generally, are advised to avoid all demonstrations as a precaution.