Argentine Government Threatens Buenos Aires Judge Who Released Detained Protesters
Police aim at a retired woman in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 12, 2025. X/ @fede_bonasso
March 13, 2025 Hour: 2:51 pm
Fundamental constitutional rights were at stake, such as the right to petition authorities, the Court said.
On Thursday, Karina Andrade, the presiding judge of the Criminal Court of First Instance of the City of Buenos Aires, ordered the “immediate” release of 114 citizens detained during the protests in support of retirees.
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“Fundamental constitutional rights were at stake, such as the right to protest, to demonstrate in a democracy, to petition authorities, and to freedom of expression,” stated a document from the Court.
Previously, following the narrative set by far-right President Javier Milei, Justice Minister Mariano Cuneo Libarona labeled the demonstrators supporting the retirees as “organized criminals committing crimes in plain sight of society.” He also threatened to review Judge Andrade’s actions before the Buenos Aires Magistrate’s Council for a “possible failure to fulfill her duties.”
Security Minister Patricia Bullrich, who led the police operation that left at least 46 people injured and a photographer in critical condition, said the Milei administration would take action against Judge Andrade.
“There is no way we will accept that a misdemeanor judge in Buenos Aires has released and justified the violent individuals who destroyed everything under the pretense of defending rights… It was a march organized by gangs, hooligans, and violent leftist organizations that seek the total and absolute destabilization of our administration,” Bullrich stressed.
Despite increasing police brutality, retirees continue to protest every Wednesday outside Congress, demanding that their pensions be adjusted for inflation, the restoration of medication coverage, and the continuation of the pension moratorium, which allowed those without sufficient years of contributions to access a pension.
Yesterday, thousands of people gathered in support of the retirees who had been brutally attacked by security forces under the orders of the Milei administration. This time, the Wednesday demonstration included students, workers, and soccer fans, who put aside their political differences and sporting rivalries to stand in defense of the retirees.
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE
