News of crimes

Argentine court requests Maduro’s extradition from the United States

04-02-2026 15:57 Court seeks extradition of Venezuela ex-president over crimes against humanity, using principle of universal jurisdiction.

CRIME: Robbery that stunned a nation

Argentina remembers the ‘Heist of the Century,’ 20 years on

13-01-2026 12:01 Two decades ago, a criminal gang entered a branch of Banco Río in San Isidro, taking 23 people hostage. In a daring operation involving underground tunnels, inflatable rafts and fake weapons, they managed to outwit 300 police officers and escape – albeit temporarily – with bagfuls of cash and jewellery. Twenty years on, only around US$1.5 million has ever been recovered, with the fate of the rest of haul unknown.

HUMAN RIGHTS

Plaintiffs ask court in Argentina to seek Maduro’s extradition

04-01-2026 22:03 Prosecutors and plaintiffs in Argentine court case probing alleged crimes against humanity committed by Maduro and his government seek extradition of Venezuelan leader.

HUMAN RIGHTS

Milei challenges Argentina's longstanding human rights policies

27-11-2025 19:11 President’s decision to appoint the head of the Army, Lieutenant General Carlos Presti, as Argentina's new defence minister comes amid calls for a new march to demand the release of military officers convicted of offences committed during the last military dictatorship and and delays to trials investigating crimes against humanity.

by Giselle Leclercq

DISCRIMINATION

Report: Attacks on LGBT community on the rise in Argentina

07-08-2025 18:56 Hate crimes against lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender people in Argentina increased by 70% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to a new report.

Human rights

Forensic experts identify remains of law student who disappeared in 1977

09-04-2025 11:13 Activist and law student Virginia Beatriz Tempone, 21, was abducted and forcibly disappeared in Mar del Plata in 1977 during the dictatorship’s time in power.

Human rights

Report: 20 convictions for crimes against humanity last year

27-03-2025 00:01 Annual report from PCCH puts tally at 1,195 convictions, 332 sentences for crimes against humanity since 2006 – the year in which such trials were resumed.

REFUGEES

Argentina changes refugee status rules for indicted, convicted

23-10-2024 07:50 President Milei changes existing law so that Argentina will not give refuge status to people accused or convicted of crimes in other countries.

HUMAN RIGHTS

Ex-cop, ex-Army officer sentenced to lengthy jail terms for 1970s crimes

01-10-2024 15:12 Néstor Ciaramella and Enrique Del Pino found guilty of kidnapping, torture, disappearances, murder, sexual abuse and other crimes committed against 185 people between 1974 and 1977, in the lead up to the military dictatorship.

COURTS & HUMAN RIGHTS

Court in Argentina orders Maduro's arrest for crimes against humanity

24-09-2024 08:45 In a historic ruling, Argentina's justice system requests arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and around 30 others for alleged crimes against humanity. Interpol red alert issued for his detention.

HUMAN RIGHTS

UN mission says Venezuela repression was crime against humanity

19-09-2024 12:52 Venezuela committed a “crime against humanity” with its persecution of dissidents after July’s election, according to a United Nations report.

ARGENTINA-VENEZUELA BILATERAL ROW

Venezuela seeks arrest of President Milei as bilateral ties hit new low

18-09-2024 20:39 Attorney general in Caracas says he will seek arrest of President Milei, Karina Milei and Patricia Bullrich over confiscation of Venezuelan cargo plane; Tarek William Saab accuses Argentina leaders of “genocide” in clampdown on protests in Buenos Aires.

COURTS

NGO, prosecutors in Argentina ask courts to order Maduro's arrest

18-09-2024 15:23 Legal push in Argentina asking domestic courts to issue an international arrest warrant for Maduro, Cabello and around 30 others for crimes against humanity; Complaint is based on the principle of universal jurisdiction.

LA LIBERTAD AVANZA IN CRISIS

Arrieta jumps ship after leaking bills to free dictatorship criminals

28-08-2024 23:56 Amid controversy within La Libertad Avanza over the visit of pro-government deputies to criminals convicted for crimes against humanity at Ezeiza Prison, national deputy leaks draft bills and decree that aim to force through their release.

WAR IN MIDDLE EAST

ICC seeks Gaza 'war crimes' arrest warrant for Netanyahu, Hamas leaders

20-05-2024 10:41 Karim Khan, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, applies for arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and top Hamas leaders on suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

HUMAN RIGHTS & DICTATORSHIP

NGOs accuse Milei government ‘dismantling’ team investigating military records

12-04-2024 08:45 Injunction against move filed with courts as human rights groups denounce firing of 10 out of 13 researchers that probe archives of Armed Forces to assist investigations into crimes against humanity.

HUMAN RIGHTS

Court reopens probe into alleged crimes against humanity in Venezuela

06-04-2024 22:17 Court in Argentina, citing principle of universal jurisdiction, orders re-opening of investigation into crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Venezuela.

POLITICS & HUMAN RIGHTS

Alberto González: ESMA torturer – and vice-president’s mentor

29-03-2024 21:02 He headed the dreaded “underground” of the ESMA Navy Mechanics School concentration camp. Convicted for crimes against humanity, Alberto González was also the first dictatorship-era criminal to be sentenced for rape. He is also the mentor of Argentina’s Vice-President Victoria Villarruel.

by Juan Luis González

Human rights

‘Los Pozos’: 10 handed life sentences for dictatorship-era abuses

28-03-2024 14:28 Court issues 10 lifetime prison sentences as part of a long-running, mass prosecution into incidents of kidnapping, torture, rape and disappearances at three sites during the country's 1976-83 military dictatorship.