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Attempted assassination of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner

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On 1 September 2022, a man attempted to assassinate Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, the vice president and former president of Argentina. The assailant approached Fernández de Kirchner as she met with supporters outside of her official residence in Recoleta, Buenos Aires, and attempted to shoot her in the head with a semi-automatic pistol.[2][3] The pistol failed to fire, and the suspect was immediately arrested on scene.[4][5]

Attempted assassination of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
Map
Location of the attack, outside Fernández de Kirchner's residence in Recoleta, Buenos Aires
LocationRecoleta, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Coordinates34°35′34″S 58°23′15″W / 34.59278°S 58.38750°W / -34.59278; -58.38750
Date1 September 2022; 2 years ago (2022-09-01)
c. 9 p.m. (UTC–3)
TargetCristina Fernández de Kirchner
Attack type
Attempted assassination by shooting
Weapons7.5 mm Bersa Lusber 84 (semi-automatic pistol)[1]

Police arrested Fernando André Sabag Montiel, a 35-year-old man who was born in Brazil and has lived in Argentina since 1993.[6] He is in detention awaiting trial for attempted homicide.[7][8][9][10]

Background

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Main article: Cristina Fernández de Kirchner

Fernández de Kirchner is a prominent lawyer and politician in Argentina. She was the first lady of Néstor Kirchner, who was Argentina's president from 2003 to 2007. She ran for and won the presidency after her husband declined to run for a second term in 2007.[11] She served two terms before leaving office in 2015.[12][13] In the 2019 presidential election, she was the running mate of Alberto Fernández, and has served as vice president between December 2019 and December 2023.[14]

In August 2022, federal prosecutors accused Fernández de Kirchner of corruption during both her presidency and that of her husband. Federal prosecutor Diego Luciani requested that courts sentence Fernández de Kirchner to 12 years imprisonment and permanent banning from public office for allegedly conspiring to award public works contracts to the construction firm of Lázaro Báez.[15][16][17] In response, opponents of Fernández de Kirchner staged several demonstrations in front of her residence calling for her resignation, followed by her supporters showing up as a counter-protest.[18] The demonstrations began almost a week before the attempt took place and were virtually constant. Fernández de Kirchner gave a speech outside her home on an improvised podium, calling the opposition's protests a product of "hatred for Peronism", and calling for all of the protesters to return home.[19]

Several violent incidents between supporters and opposition occurred, including clashes with the Buenos Aires City Police and the detention of a man wielding a wrench as a weapon.[20] On 30 August 2022, a judge requested federal protection for Fernández de Kirchner, transferring her protection to federal security authorities rather than the local Buenos Aires City Police.[21][22]

Attempted assassination

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Fernández de Kirchner presiding over the Senate hours before the attack

On 1 September 2022 at 8:50 p.m., Fernández de Kirchner had just returned to her official residence in Recoleta after presiding over a session at the Senate.[23] As she was signing copies of her book, Sinceramente, for her supporters, Fernando André Sabag Montiel allegedly approached and pulled the trigger of a semi-automatic pistol mere inches from her face, but the gun failed to fire.[23] According to initial reports, Fernández de Kirchner appeared to have shielded her face with her hand and ducked,[3][24] though she later said she had not seen the gun.[25] Another report said she may have stooped to pick up something from the ground.[26] She was unharmed and the suspect was immediately arrested by her security detail.[3][27]

The Bersa pistol used in the attack was recovered close to the scene. It was fully loaded with five cartridges although no round was found in the chamber of the weapon. It was reported that the assailant attempted to fire the gun twice, failing both times. Its serial number was partially removed, but the weapon was otherwise deemed "fit for firing" by official sources.[28]

According to The Guardian, several reports stated that the suspect may not have pulled the trigger.[3] However, audio from several videos of the attack recorded an audible clicking sound.[29]

Suspect

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The suspect was identified as Fernando André Sabag Montiel (born 13 January 1987), a 35-year-old Brazilian man from La Paternal, Buenos Aires, who has resided in Argentina since 1993.[30][31][32] He worked as an Uber driver.[24] On 17 March 2021, Sabag Montiel was found in possession of a 35-centimetre long knife during a traffic stop; he was arrested and charged with carrying "non-conventional weapons".[27] The case was dropped by the prosecution as "it was not an important matter".[33]

In the weeks before the attack, he was interviewed on the street by Crónica TV criticizing the government's welfare programs, claiming they made people "lazy".[27] During the interview and in social media posts, Sabag Montiel made statements condemning both Fernández de Kirchner and her political opponent, Javier Milei.[34]

Sabag Montiel has tattoos depicting Nazi imagery, including a Black Sun on his left elbow and an Iron Cross on his right hand.[35] He has been reported in the past for gender violence and animal abuse.[36]

As of 3 September 2022, Sabag Montiel is detained in an isolated cell in a Federal Police facility and has refused to testify.[37] His girlfriend, Brenda Uliarte, was detained on orders of the judge after an analysis of Sabag Montiel's movements, coupled with statements from a friend, concluded that he was allegedly with her on the night of the attempted assassination.[38]

Aftermath

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Demonstrations held in support of Fernández de Kirchner
 
Officers from the Federal Police stand guard outside the house of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner the day after the assassination attempt.

President Alberto Fernández announced that the investigation would be led by federal judge María Eugenia Capuchetti, and the case prosecuted by Carlos Rívolo.[39] The suspect will be defended against the charge of attempted homicide by public defender Juan Manuel Hermida. Initial investigations did not reveal any accomplices or ties of the suspect to an organisation behind the crime.[36] A raid at the suspect's rented home in the Villa Zagala neighbourhood turned up about 100 bullets.[40] The Argentine Senate has set up a commission to investigate the attack.[2]

In a cadena nacional a few hours after the incident, President Fernández said, "This is the most serious event since we recovered our democracy." He declared the following day a national holiday,[2] which was ignored by the opposition-ruled provinces of Jujuy and Mendoza.[41] The government called for its citizens to rally at Plaza de Mayo on 2 September in support of Fernández de Kirchner, resulting in huge crowds of demonstrators across Buenos Aires and other cities.[42] Amongst the slogans used were "Enough hate" and "If they touch Cristina, what chaos we'll make".[43]

Several foreign nations and government ministers—including former president Mauricio Macri—condemned the attempted assassination.[44][45][46][47] A bipartisan draft resolution repudiating the attempted assassination was passed unanimously on 3 September by the Chamber of Deputies.[48] The Republican Proposal (PRO) party, usually opponents of Fernández de Kirchner, voted for the resolution but left the chamber soon after. PRO leader Cristian Ritondo cited politicization of the events as the reason for walking out.[49]

Conspiracy theories have been raised claiming that the attempted assassination was staged. The provincial deputy of Santa Fe, Amalia Granata, described it as a "pantomime".[50] A similar opinion also appeared in an article by a Spanish journalist published by Libertad Digital.[51] Political scientist Pedro Núñez from the Latin American Social Research Institute said in a statement to Deutsche Welle: "The justice system obviously has to act quickly, since the worst that could happen is that this is diluted over time and more and more conspiracy theories appear about what happened".[52]

Nicolás Maduro, president of Venezuela, proposed that Argentina should have a law against hate speech similar to the Venezuelan one.[53] Some Kirchnerist politicians, like Victoria Donda, blamed the attack on perceived hate speech from the media, the opposition, and the judiciary.[54] Mayor Horacio Rodríguez Larreta rejected the proposal of a new law as an attempt to impose limits to the freedom of the press. During an interview with Perfil journalist Sam Forster, Amnesty International’s Argentina Director Mariela Belski also expressed concerns regarding the implementation of such a law: “[W]e must point out that in the face of this new and growing attention to this issue in Argentina, there is a risk that the broadness of the issue could lead to a hollowing out of its content. It is essential to make sense of what we mean by hate speech on the basis of international human rights standards in order to define in which exceptional cases it represents a reasonable limit to freedom of expression.”[55]

Casa Rosada spokeswoman Gabriela Cerruti pointed out that the government is not working on any draft bill over the topic.[56]

In a September 2022 speech to Argentina's Chamber of Deputies, Javier Milei argued against calling the event a "magnicide"[whose translation?]. In his speech, he stated: "The first thing I want to take out of the discussion is the [attempted] magnicide issue. I understand that we are all equal before the law and that those of us who represent the people are no more. If we put that title on it, you are acknowledging that we are more. I will not accept caste terms. Whatever it was, but it's not a magnicide attempt."[whose translation?][57][58]

Trial

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The trial began on 26 June 2024 at the Federal Court No. 6 in Buenos Aires with three accused of attempted aggravated homicide and 270 witnesses called to testify.[59][60]

Fernández de Kirchner testified on 14 August.[61]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Chaluleu, Mariano (2 September 2022). "Cómo es y cómo funciona el arma que usó el atacante". Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Nicas, Jack; Alcoba, Natalie (1 September 2022). "Argentina's Vice President Unharmed After Failed Assassination Attempt". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d Goñi, Uki; Phillips, Tom; Jones, Sam (2 September 2022). "Cristina Fernández de Kirchner: arrest after attempted shooting of Argentina vice-president". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  4. ^ "Man detained after pointing handgun at Cristina Fernández de Kirchner". Buenos Aires Times. 1 September 2022. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Man detained after pointing gun at Argentine vice president". ABC News. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  6. ^ Seifert, Daniel (1 September 2022). "Ataque a Cristina Kirchner: quién es el detenido que apuntó con un arma a la vicepresidenta". Clarín (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  7. ^ "Argentina VP unharmed after assailant threatens her with gun". finance.yahoo.com. 2 September 2022. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  8. ^ "Ataque a Cristina Kirchner, EN VIVO: Mauricio Macri pidió un 'inmediato y profundo esclarecimiento' del hecho". Clarín (in Spanish). 1 September 2022. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  9. ^ "Ataque a Cristina Kirchner: detuvieron a un hombre que le apuntó con un arma frente a su casa". Clarín (in Spanish). 1 September 2022. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  10. ^ "'I pulled the trigger and it didn't fire,' says CFK's would-be assassin". www.batimes.com.ar. Buenos Aires Times. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  11. ^ "Cristina Kirchner conserva casi 22 puntos de diferencia sobre Carrió". Clarín. 29 October 2007. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  12. ^ Barrionuevo, Alexei (24 October 2011). "Kirchner Achieves an Easy Victory in Argentina Presidential Election". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 22 October 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  13. ^ Shoichet, Catherine E. (22 November 2015). "Argentina elections: Mauricio Macri poised to be next President". CNN. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  14. ^ "Alberto Fernández presidente, Cristina Kirchner vice: El video en el que la senadora anuncia la fórmula". La Nación. 18 May 2019. Archived from the original on 10 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  15. ^ "El fiscal Diego Luciani pidió que Cristina Kirchner sea condenada a 12 años de cárcel e inhabilitarla de por vida para ejercer cargos públicos". La Nación (in Spanish). 23 August 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  16. ^ "Prosecutors request 12-year sentence for former Argentine President Cristina Fernández". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. 23 August 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  17. ^ "Argentina prosecutor seeks 12-year jail sentence for VP Kirchner in graft trial". France 24. 23 August 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022. The period investigated includes Kirchner's eight years in office from 2007 to 2015 and the preceding four years when her late husband Nestor Kirchner, who died in 2010, was president.
  18. ^ "Operativo en la casa de Cristina Kirchner, en vivo: militantes, vallas de la Ciudad y las últimas noticias" [Operative in the house of Cristina Kirchner, live: militants, billboards of the City and the latest news]. La Nación (in Spanish). Buenos Aires. 28 August 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  19. ^ "Cristina Kirchner habló tras los incidentes cerca de su casa: "Vayamos a descansar que ha sido un largo día"" [Cristina Kirchner spoke after the incidents near her home: "Let's go rest, it's been a long day"]. Cronista (in Spanish). Buenos Aires. 28 August 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  20. ^ "Detuvieron a repartidor que amenazó con una llave inglesa a manifestantes en la vigilia de Cristina". Ámbito Financiero (in Spanish). 1 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  21. ^ "Rodríguez Larreta mantendrá a la Policía en Recoleta y sumará inspectores de otras áreas de su Gobierno" (in Spanish). Infobae. 30 August 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  22. ^ "Horacio Rodríguez Larreta defendió el vallado policial y le pidió a Cristina Kirchner "que se vaya la militancia"" [Horacio Rodríguez Larreta defended the police fence and asked Cristina Kirchner "for the militancy to leave"]. Cronista (in Spanish). Buenos Aires. 28 August 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  23. ^ a b "Intentaron asesinar a Cristina Kirchner" [They tried to assassinate Cristina Kirchner]. www.c5n.com (in Spanish). 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  24. ^ a b Nicas, Jack; Coelho, Leonardo; Feliba, David (2 September 2022). "Argentina Reels From Assassination Attempt on Its Powerful Vice President". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  25. ^ "Cristina declaró en la Justicia por el atentado y dijo que "nunca vio el arma"" [Cristina declared in Justice for the attack and said that "she never saw the weapon"]. Ámbito. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  26. ^ Alex Binley; Matt Murphy (2 September 2022). "Cristina Fernández de Kirchner: Gun jams during bid to kill Argentina vice-president". BBC News. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  27. ^ a b c "El perfil de Fernando Andrés Sabag Montiel, el atacante de Cristina: tuvo llamativas apariciones en TV" [The profile of Fernando Andrés Sabag Montiel, Cristina's attacker: he had striking appearances on TV]. La Nación (in Spanish). 3 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  28. ^ "Cómo es la Bersa Thunder calibre 32, el arma que se utilizó en el ataque a Cristina Kirchner" [How is the Bersa Thunder caliber 32, the weapon that was used in the attack on Cristina Kirchner]. La Nación (in Spanish). 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  29. ^ Herrero, Ana; Lopes, Marina (2 September 2022). "Gun fails inches from Argentine vice president's face in shooting attempt". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  30. ^ "Dónde pasó la noche Fernando Andrés Sabag Montiel, el hombre que atacó a Cristina Kirchner" [Where did Fernando Andrés Sabag Montiel spend the night, the man who attacked Cristina Kirchner]. La Nación (in Spanish). 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  31. ^ Misculin, Nicolás (2 September 2022). "Argentina's VP Kirchner unharmed in point-blank attempted shooting". Reuters. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  32. ^ "Quem é o brasileiro preso após apontar arma contra Cristina Kirchner na Argentina" [Who is the Brazilian arrested after pointing gun at Cristina Kirchner in Argentina]. Terra (in Portuguese). 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  33. ^ "The profile of the suspect accused of trying to kill Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner". MercoPress. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  34. ^ "Argentina Reels From Assassination Attempt on Its Powerful Vice President". The New York Times. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  35. ^ Johnson, Jamie; Penza, Natalia; Crisp, James (2 September 2022). "Moment Argentina's vice president narrowly escapes handgun 'assassination attempt'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  36. ^ a b Kollmann, Raúl (2 September 2022). "Atentado a Cristina Kichner: qué sabe la Justicia del hombre que quiso dispararle a la vicepresidenta" [Attack on Cristina Kichner: what does Justice know about the man who wanted to shoot the vice president]. PAGINA12 (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  37. ^ "Doble custodia y cámaras: cómo pasa las horas el hombre que intentó matar a Cristina Kirchner" [Double custody and cameras: how the man who tried to kill Cristina Kirchner spends his hours]. La Nación (in Spanish). 3 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  38. ^ Start, Candela (5 September 2022). "La Policía Federal detuvo a la pareja de Sabag Montiel" [The Federal Police arrested Sabag Montiel's partner]. La Nación (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  39. ^ "Cristina Kirchner será querellante en la causa y acusará al detenido por tentativa de magnicidio por odio" [Cristina Kirchner will be a plaintiff in the case and will accuse the detainee of attempted assassination out of hate]. www.c5n.com. 3 September 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  40. ^ Grattan, Steven (2 September 2022). "Explainer-How the attack on Argentine VP Cristina Kirchner unfolded". Reuters. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  41. ^ "Kirchnerism to gather at Buenos Aires' Plaza de Mayo". MercoPress. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  42. ^ "'We need to stand against this' – huge crowds flood Plaza de Mayo to 'defend democracy'". Buenos Aires Times. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  43. ^ "'Stop the hate' – pro-CFK supporters take to streets after attack". Buenos Aires Times. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  44. ^ "Man detained after pointing gun at Argentine vice president". news.yahoo.com. 2 September 2022. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  45. ^ "Arce sobre ataque a Cristina Kirchner: 'repudiamos enfáticamente el atentado contra su vida'". La Razón. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  46. ^ "Presidente Boric sobre atentando a Cristina Fernández: 'Merece el repudio y la condena de todo el continente'". ADN (in Spanish). 2 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  47. ^ "Expresa Raúl Castro solidaridad con Cristina Fernández". 5 Septiembre (in Spanish). 2 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  48. ^ "Diputados: en un clima de tensión contenida, oficialistas y opositores repudiaron el atentado contra Cristina Kirchner" [Deputies: in a climate of contained tension, government officials and opponents repudiated the attack against Cristina Kirchner]. La Nación (in Spanish). 3 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  49. ^ "Cristian Ritondo explicó los motivos de Pro para salir del recinto: "Quedarnos no era un aporte a la paz social sino todo lo contrario"" [Cristian Ritondo explained Pro's reasons for leaving the premises: "Staying was not a contribution to social peace, quite the opposite"]. La Nación (in Spanish). 3 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  50. ^ "Amalia Granata dijo que el ataque a Cristina Kirchner "es una pantomima" y desde el PJ pedirán su remoción" [Amalia Granata said that the attack on Cristina Kirchner "is a pantomime" and from the PJ they will ask for her removal]. Los Andes (in Spanish). 2 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  51. ^ "¿Atentado o fraude? Dudas en Argentina sobre el inverosímil ataque a Fernández de Kirchner" [Attack or fraud? Doubts in Argentina about the improbable attack on Fernández de Kirchner]. Libertad Digital (in Spanish). 2 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  52. ^ "Atentado a Cristina Kirchner: crispación y discursos de odio" [Attack on Cristina Kirchner: tension and hate speech]. DW (in Spanish). 2 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  53. ^ "Por el atentado a Cristina, Nicolás Maduro abogó por la ley contra el odio que se aplica en Venezuela sobre medios y opositores" [Because of the attack to Cristina, Nicolás Maduro championed the law against hate used in Venezuela against the media and the opposition] (in Spanish). La Nación. 4 September 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  54. ^ "Victoria Donda: "El discurso de odio no es contra cualquiera, es contra el peronismo, contra el kirchnerismo"" [Victoria Donda: "the hate speech is not against just anyone, it's against Peronism, against Kirchnerism"] (in Spanish). La Nación. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  55. ^ "Call for 'hate speech' law divides government and galvanises opposition | Buenos Aires Times". www.batimes.com.ar. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  56. ^ "El Gobierno desmintió querer regular los "discursos del odio" pero se mostró a favor de una ley de publicidad oficial: "Cálmense, bajen un cambio"" [The government denied wishing to regulate "hate speech" but supported a law of state publicity: "relax a bit"] (in Spanish). La Nación. 6 September 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  57. ^ "Milei criticó a Macri: '¿Por qué no lo hizo cuando fue presidente?'". Perfil (in Spanish). 19 September 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  58. ^ "Javier Milei criticó al oficialismo y la oposición por la última sesión en Diputados". Qpasó (in Spanish). 19 September 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  59. ^ Trial into attempted assassination of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner begins
  60. ^ Empieza el juicio oral por el intento de asesinato de Cristina Fernández de Kirchner: esto fue lo que pasó (in Spanish)
  61. ^ “Tenemos sentados acá a los autores materiales pero no a los ideólogos”: crónica de la declaración de CFK en el juicio por su intento de homicidio (in Spanish)
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