The governor of Buenos Aires province, Axel Kicillof, filed a criminal complaint with the Federal Court on Wednesday after a journalistic investigation revealed alleged espionage against him.

With the legal representation of attorney Guillermo Acuña Anzorena, the provincial leader requested an investigation into “alleged illegal espionage maneuvers by officials and/or personnel of the SIDE,” the national intelligence secretariat, which he believes would fall under “public action crimes committed by individuals whose identity must be established.”

“I have recently learned, through news reports, that alleged illegal espionage maneuvers by officials and/or personnel of the SIDE against me, among others, have been detected,” the statement says, clarifying that these are “confidential reports on opposition politicians and officials.”

“I don’t know any further details about what happened. But the content of this news story and the seriousness of what allegedly occurred compel me to file this complaint so that an urgent investigation can be conducted into what actually happened, its scope, and who was/were the perpetrators.”

Labor unions also file a criminal complaint for illegal espionage

The secretaries-general of the Argentine Workers’ Central Union (CTA by its Spanish name), Hugo Yasky, and of the Autonomous Workers’ Central of Argentina (CTA Autónoma), Hugo ‘Cachorro’ Godoy, also filed a criminal complaint against President Javier Milei, and against the head of the State Intelligence Secretariat (SIDE), Sergio Neiffert, for alleged illegal espionage on union organizations, political leaders and social movements.

The complaint was filed with the federal court following a journalistic investigation that revealed secret reports prepared by the SIDE that monitored completely legitimate political and union activities, such as retiree marches, cultural events, and union protests.

The reports, which detail dates, times, routes, and names of the leaders involved, make no mention of risks to national security and are allegedly aimed exclusively at mapping and anticipating opposition actions. That violates the National Intelligence Law (Law No. 25,520) and the constitutional rights to privacy, freedom of expression, and political participation, the unions reported.

The petition requests an investigation into whether the reports were produced under a court order, and, if not, a determination of criminal liability for the officials involved, including the President, in his capacity as the highest political authority within the national intelligence system.

Originally published on Ámbito