Argentina Marks Decade Since Prosecutor Nisman’s Death, President Milei Vows Justice Amid Renewed Murder Claims

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — President Javier Milei’s administration commemorated a decade since the unsettling demise of prosecutor Alberto Nisman, emphatically classifying his death as a “murder” committed by “the darkest forces of power” in Argentina. This stark announcement was made on the anniversary of his passing, spotlighting an unresolved chapter in the South American country’s history.

On January 18, 2015, Nisman was discovered with a fatal gunshot wound in his apartment in the upscale Buenos Aires district of Puerto Madero, under enigmatic circumstances that led to widespread debate and conspiracy theories across the nation. Originally ruled a suicide by initial investigations, the conclusion didn’t hold as further scrutiny from federal judges and changing prosecutorial analysis swung the findings toward a possible homicide.

The case of Nisman’s death intertwines with his role as the Federal Prosecutor overseeing the AMIA Investigation Unit (UFI-AMIA). He was poised to elaborate serious allegations before the Argentine Congress against Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, the then-president, and other former officials. Just days before his scheduled testimony, he accused them of complicity in obscuring Iranian involvement in the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center, the deadliest terrorist strike in Argentine history.

This renewed probe reasserts the theory that Nisman was murdered as a result of his determined pursuit of justice for the bombing victims, aiming to unmask those behind the devastating attack. Current assessments by federal prosecutors reinforce this perspective, suggesting his investigative efforts were met with lethal opposition.

The government insists it holds “deep confidence that the Judiciary will persist in its investigations to ensure that Prosecutor Nisman’s homicide does not remain unsanctioned.” Such commitment was reiterated in the anniversary statement, which also urged continuous pursuit of the allegations Nisman raised before his death.

Nisman claimed that Kirchner and her associates had engaged in abuse of authority, and neglect of duty, all allegedly to shield the perpetrators of the AMIA bombing. Milei, in the statement, reaffirmed his dedication to securing justice for the AMIA victims, echoing a sentiment of unresolved national trauma.

Argentinians remain polarized over the prosecutor’s death, caught between theories of suicide and murder. While some see Nisman’s death as a desperate end of a haunted man, others believe he was targeted due to his explosive accusations, which implicated high-ranking officials in acts of international terrorism collusion. Despite such stark divisions, Kirchner has rarely addressed these allegations directly, though prominent supporters like Senator Oscar Parrilli defended her, maintaining Nisman’s death was self-inflicted and critiquing the media’s portrayal of the prosecutor’s death.

Amid these commemorations, Nisman’s former wife, Judge Sandra Arroyo Salgado, reflected on the personal and national implications of the case in a radio interview. While acknowledging Kirchner’s leadership qualities, she criticized her for the association with strategies she believes directly influenced her husband’s fate. According to Arroyo Salgado, Nisman was isolated and increasingly threatened as he delved deeper into the Iranian links to the AMIA bombing. She stressed the importance of resilience and the pursuit of justice without succumbing to fear, depicting her late husband as a steadfast investigator whose death should not be in vain.

The debate over Nisman’s true cause of death and the implications of his accusations continue to resonate deeply in Argentina, reflecting broader struggles with corruption, justice, and political accountability. Both the judiciary and the public remain vigilant, seeking clarity and closure in a case that has, for a decade, gripped the nation with its layers of intrigue and tragedy.