Argentina's ex-President Fernandez charged with abuse allegations – DW – 15.08.2024

Former Argentine President Alberto Fernandez was officially charged on Wednesday with violence against former First Lady Fabiola Yanez.

Prosecutor Ramiro Gonzalez filed documents with the court demanding that the former president be charged with “minor and serious bodily harm” as well as “coercion and threat of coercive measures.”

He said there was evidence that Yanez “suffered in a relationship marked by bullying, psychological abuse and physical aggression in the context of gender-based and domestic violence.”

Fernandez has denied the allegations.

Photos of alleged abuse published

The domestic violence allegations first came to light in text messages that surfaced during a separate embezzlement investigation into Fernandez.

Yanez initially waived the charges, but later filed a complaint.

Yanez's lawyer said she decided to contact the investigating judge “and told him: 'I want to file a criminal complaint. I want to report him (Fernandez) for the beatings I received from him and the threats I was subjected to.'”

In recent days, Argentine media published photos of Yanez showing bruises on his face and arm.

Fernandez, who served as Argentina's president from 2019 to 2023, has categorically denied Yanez's allegations and vowed to prove to the courts “what really happened.”

zc/lo (AFP, Reuters)