A judge in Argentina has ordered the “immediate cessation” of the dissemination of audio recordings made at the Casa Rosada featuring Presidential Chief-of-Staff Karina Milei, branding it “a serious violation of institutional privacy.”
The ruling, which media watchdogs and reporters rushed to condemn as an attack on the freedom of the press, was issued by Judge Alejandro Patricio Maraniello after the release of an audio clip last Friday.
In the leaked audio recording, originally released by the Carnaval streaming channel and subsequently shared on social media, Karina Milei is heard calling for “unity” within the ruling La Libertad Avanza party and stating that she works long hours.
“We cannot get into a fight with each other. We have to be united,” says Karina Milei, the sister of President Javier Milei.
Those who disseminated the material warned that the initial clip was only a preview of a longer recording, prompting the government to take swift legal action.
'Illegal and targeted'
The national government described that leak as an “illegal and targeted attack” designed to destabilise it in the lead-up to key elections this month and next.
It subsequently filed a complaint with the courts, seeking to block the further release of any additional recordings, which it argued was aimed at “misinforming" and "destabilising" the electoral process.
Maraniello’s court ruling orders the cessation of dissemination “through any written and/or audiovisual media and/or via social networks from any website, platform and/or web channel.”
To ensure compliance, it stipulates that an official letter should be sent to the ENACOM national communications agency.
Presidential Spokesperson Manuel Adorni hailed the news on his social media accounts, assuring that the court had “recognised that this is a serious violation of institutional privacy and not a case of freedom of expression.”
“Private conversations between Karina Milei and other officials were recorded, manipulated and disseminated to influence the executive branch. It was not a leak. It was an illegal, planned and targeted attack,” declared Adorni.
In a post on social media minutes afterwards, President Milei described the leaked recordings as an “illegal intelligence operation.”
In a statement criticising the ruling, the CELS human rights group stated: “A judge has prohibited the dissemination of audios of Karina Milei, and the Security Ministry is requesting raids on media outlets and journalists. The government is acting against freedom of expression and the public's right to be informed about matters of public interest. Instead of clarifying the facts, they criminalise those who disseminate them.”
Late Monday, it emerged that the National Security Ministry had requested a search of the streaming channel’s offices, as well as homes of journalists and businessmen involved with this media outlet.
The court has not yet ruled on this request nor have they ordered any arrests.
Bullrich blames Russians, Venezuelans
Security Minister Patricia Bullrich on Monday claimed that the leak of Karina Milei's audio recordings were assisted by "parallel national" and "foreign" intelligence services, hinting at the involvement of Russia and Venezuela.
In an interview with Radio Rivadavia, Bullrich described the Casa Rosada recordings as "something unprecedented and incredible."
"We recently denounced the interference of individuals linked to former Russian intelligence services. We knew it could be part of the campaign. We also saw that Venezuela could have an influence, because it is defending itself with attacks," she said.
Bullrich also revealed the strict security measures were already in place to prevent new leaks, confirming that "no official enters cabinet meetings with a phone."
– TIMES/NA
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