Federal Oral Court No. 2 (TOF 2) dismissed on Monday the request of the former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner to receive unrestricted visits during her house arrest.
The decision was made just a few hours after her defense submitted to the same court a confidential list with the names of the people the former president wishes to authorize to enter her residence located at San José 1111.
The ruling was signed by judges Jorge Gorini, Rodrigo Giménez Uriburu, and Andrés Basso, who thus replied to the request submitted last Friday by attorney Carlos Beraldi. In that document, the elimination of the restrictions imposed on permitted visits during the serving of the sentence in the Vialidad case was requested.
Cristina Kirchner, condenada por corrupción.
The former head of state argued that, as a person with an active social life, she should not be subject to restrictions regarding whom she can receive in her apartment in the Constitución neighborhood.
Nevertheless, the judges rejected the request, stating that the request "implies a total rejection" of one of the conditions imposed in the ruling issued on June 16. They also emphasized that the arguments presented by the defense are not sufficient to modify the grounds supporting the original decision.
In that regard, the judges recalled that at the time of ordering the detention and setting the conditions of house arrest, clear guidelines were established that remain in force. They also indicated that the dispute over the scope of the restrictions will be evaluated by the Court of Cassation.
Visits for the convicted
Hours before this ruling, Cristina Kirchner's defense had submitted the confidential list with the names of those seeking to enter her residence.
The document was submitted just before the deadline set by the court for the former head of state to provide the names of family members, doctors, lawyers, and security personnel who would make up the authorized visitation regime.
Attorney Beraldi expressly requested that the list remain confidential, to prevent the public disclosure of the names included therein.
Cristina Kirchner, condenada por corrupción.
Since last Thursday afternoon, Cristina Fernández has been electronically monitored by an ankle bracelet. This system doesn't record the exact location within the residence, but is intended to ensure that the authorized perimeter is not exceeded as part of the benefit of house arrest.
Although on two occasions the former head of state was reminded of the obligation to "refrain from engaging in behaviors that may disturb the peace of the neighborhood and/or disrupt the peaceful coexistence of its inhabitants," last Sunday, the mayor of Quilmes, Mayra Mendoza, a leader of La Cámpora, called on supporters to gather near the residence "because Cristina will come out on the balcony at any moment."
Subsequently, she called for a flag-waving demonstration, but it was the former president herself who requested that the gathering take place in Parque Lezama and not in front of her home in Constitución.
When setting the conditions of the arrest, TOF 2 ordered that within 48 hours a list be submitted of people included in the categories of family members, medical professionals, lawyers, and security personnel.
Complying with that deadline, on Monday the defense submitted the requested document to judges Gorini, Basso, and Giménez Uriburu.
If the former head of state wishes to maintain the presence of her personal secretaries, she must include them in the list, even if they are outside the categories indicated by the court. In that case, they may only enter the residence once the judges review what has been submitted and specifically authorize their access.
