“The Argentine Journalism Forum (FOPEA, for its initials in Spanish) condemns the restriction on access to public information suffered by several journalists, especially Melisa Molina, a reporter for newspaper Página 12, on Tuesday, July 22 in Córdoba, at the so-called ‘Derecha Fest.' During the event, organized by a private organization and attended by President Javier Milei, personnel from the secret service forced Molina to leave the venue despite the fact that she was accredited and had also purchased a ticket. The argument was that ‘people from Buenos Aires’ did not want her inside the event. These individuals escorted her to a vacant lot where several cars were parked.
According to Molina's account in an article in Página 12 and to the FOPEA freedom of expression monitor, after a brief interrogation and after two 20,000 [Argentine peso] bills were thrown at her, the price of the entrance fee, they left her there in the open without allowing her to re-enter.
Other colleagues from the province of Córdoba who covered the event agreed that accredited journalists were not allowed into the room where the presentations were held and had to remain outside, in an area marked by a corral. Only those who had purchased tickets were allowed inside.
FOPEA considers this irregularity to be a violation of access to public information and other abuses of state power. This is because, although the event was organized privately, the presence of the president and the actions of members of the secret service to intimidate a journalist constitute state actions."
