Misiones provincial lawmaker Germán Kiczka is currently on the run after he fled his home before police could arrest him on accusations of possessing and distributing images of child sexual abuse. Authorities have now requested the international capture of Kiczka and his brother Sebastián, who is also being investigated.

Germán Kiczka belongs to Activar, a Misiones libertarian political party part of ruling coalition La Libertad Avanza (LLA). His brother managed the family’s pizzeria.

The case against the Germán and Sebastián Kiczka is part of “Digital Childhood Guardians” a larger, cross-country operation spearheaded by two international NGOs devoted to fighting child trafficking that also includes several local law enforcement agencies. 

The brothers became one of the operation’s targets after a computer crime unit of the Buenos Aires City Prosecutor Office, based on information provided by the NGOs, raided their father’s house in February. Investigators found abundant images of child abuse on one of the computers seized there. 

According to the arrest warrant the Herald had access to, some of the victims appeared to be children under 13. The investigators also found that the main user of that computer was lawmaker Germán Kiczka.

His brother Sebastián was also included in the investigation as he allegedly has admitted his “addiction” to images of child abuse. According to the court document, a seized cell phone belonging to him contains multiple conversations in which he acknowledges that he has also committed this type of abuse and planned to keep doing so.

Before entering politics, Germán hosted a YouTube channel called “El Show de Magia del Tío Germán” (The Magic Show of Uncle Germán) that produced content aimed at children. His brother often appeared on the show.

Two weeks ago, in an interview with local TV channel Misiones Cuatro, the lawmaker insisted on his innocence and implied his brother was the true culprit. “I want those who are bad to be in jail and those who are good people to be free, because I am a good person, I am transparent, I have nothing to hide,” he said. “I am part of the opposition [of the provincial government]. This is not the first time that I have been attacked.”

Police officers sent by the investigating judge Miguel Faría arrived at the registered homes of the Kiczka brothers on Friday but they were nowhere to be found. Sources from the Migrations Office confirmed to the Herald that there are no records of them leaving the country, although they could have done so illegally.

Misiones reaction

The Misiones provincial legislature stripped Kiczka of his congressional immunity on Thursday following a request made by  Faría. 

Kiczka’s political party Activar is also distancing itself from him following the news. “In the face of such abhorrent acts, I reaffirm my total commitment to justice and the investigation,” Activar head Pedro Puerta posted on X on Wednesday.

“We will support all measures that facilitate the work of the judiciary. Nobody is above the law.”

Activar authorities had already said weeks back that the party’s disciplinary board would demand Kiczka resign from his position in the legislature, although it clarified that there were “no elements” linking the lawmaker to the case. In a communiqué, they condemned “political and media manipulation” allegedly done to harm the libertarian party.