Argentina’s government accuses people “linked to Russian intelligence” of staging corruption scandal around president’s sister
Days before regional elections in Argentina’s largest province, Buenos Aires, the far-right government of President Javier Milei has been pulled into its biggest corruption controversy since taking office.
Karina Milei, the president’s younger sister and secretary-general of the Office of the President, is suspected of involvement in alleged kickbacks tied to government contracts for medicines for people with disabilities. The government and Milei deny the accusations, while Security Minister Patricia Bullrich unexpectedly claimed the uproar was orchestrated ahead of the vote by “people linked to Russian intelligence, with influence in Venezuela,” aiming to destabilize the administration.
In August, journalists from the Argentine outlet Carnaval Stream published an audio recording provided by an anonymous source. The voice on the tape is said to be Diego Spagnuolo, a close ally of Milei who led the National Agency for People with Disabilities. The recorded conversation suggests Karina Milei and Deputy Minister for Public Administration Eduardo Menem are receiving kickbacks from state contracts to procure medicines for people with disabilities.
According to the allegations, each contract was inflated by 8%, with 3% allegedly going directly to Karina Milei. The purported monthly take from the scheme ranged between $500,000 and $800,000. On the tape, Spagnuolo claims the president was aware: “I told him: ‘Javier, you know they’re stealing, that your sister is stealing?’”
Authorities opened an investigation after the audio became public. Police searched the home and office of Spagnuolo, as well as those of Emmanuel Kovalivker, one of the owners of the company Suizo Argentina, which allegedly took part in the scheme. Spagnuolo—considered a personal friend of the president and a frequent guest at his residence—was dismissed. Milei later called him a “liar” and vowed to sue. The president’s sister and Deputy Minister Eduardo Menem kept their posts. The government denied all allegations, calling the scandal an opposition provocation ahead of the election. Officials have not provided a clear explanation regarding the recording.
On August 29, the same anonymous source sent Carnaval Stream a short clip from a meeting led by Karina Milei at the presidential palace. It contains no compromising material—only her call for unity in challenging times—but it indicates the source may hold additional recordings. A day earlier, the government secured a court order barring journalists from publishing any new audio featuring Karina Milei, should such recordings surface.
