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Ombudsman Says Pepper Spray Was Used Indiscriminately at Buenos Aires Pensioners’ Protest

The report details an 800-officer deployment at the weekly Congress protest, sharpening scrutiny of the security response.

Overview

  • Retirees gathered as they do each Wednesday at Rivadavia and Callao outside Congress to demand better pensions.
  • The Buenos Aires City Ombudsman reported nine people injured, no detainees and described federal forces’ use of pepper spray as unjustified and indiscriminate.
  • The operation involved roughly 500 federal agents from the Federal Police, Gendarmerie, Prefecture and Airport Security Police, plus 200–300 city officers.
  • Tensions escalated after part of the police barricades was pulled down, a gap opened and security forces advanced using tear gas and pepper spray.
  • Independent reports and eyewitnesses corroborated gas use and injuries and cited at least one detention, conflicting with the ombudsman’s account of no arrests.