Tuesday Feb 14, 2023 - Argentina - Pregnant Russian women surge, Cryptocurrency regulations, Government re-shuffle

These are the Trending news headlines in Argentina on Tuesday February 14, 2023.

Argentinian officials are reporting a surge in the number of pregnant Russian women flying to the country. Over 5,000 women have arrived in recent months, seeking to give birth to obtain Argentine citizenship. It is believed the increase in arrivals is due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, making travel to many western countries more difficult. On Thursday, 33 pregnant Russian women arrived on a single flight, three of whom were detained for "problems with their documentation". The women sought Argentine citizenship for their children as it offers more freedom and the ability to enter 171 countries visa-free, compared to the 87 countries Russians can travel to without a visa. The rise in "birth tourism" by Russian citizens to Argentina is a well-established and lucrative practice. Argentine police are now investigating a suspected "million-dollar business and illicit network" that provided fake documents for pregnant Russian women and their partners to settle in the country.

Argentina's President Alberto Fernandez is making a major reshuffle ahead of the October elections. He's replacing Cabinet Chief Juan Manzur with the current spy chief, Agustin Rossi. Rossi is a recognized political leader and served in the governments of Néstor Kirchner and Cristina Fernandez Kirchner. The Peronist government is facing tough times with inflation at nearly 100% and infighting among factions. Manzur will lead the campaign for the ruling coalition's governor candidate in the important regional elections in Tucuman. Fernandez may seek re-election but is facing splits within his coalition.

Argentinian regulators are considering a new cryptocurrency regulation that may include proof-of-solvency requirements. According to reports, the national securities regulator, the CNV, is studying the possibility of including these requirements for crypto exchanges and custody institutions. This comes after the recent collapse of a leading cryptocurrency exchange, FTX. The government is preparing to launch new regulations for crypto companies to operate in the country. The focus will be more on exchanges, and less on the classification of crypto and tokens. The regulatory framework will be applied gradually and the CNV president, Sebastian Negri, has stated that all measures will be taken in collaboration with crypto companies in Argentina. The CNV will create a working group with the industry to agree on new regulatory parameters.

Eight amateur rugby players in Argentina have been sentenced to prison for the 2020 murder of 18-year-old Fernando Baez Sosa. The verdict sparked debates about race and class in Argentine society. Five of the defendants received life sentences and the remaining three received 15 years. This was after a four-week trial in Dolores, located 140 miles south of Buenos Aires. The governor of Buenos Aires province expressed hope that the verdict would bring comfort to the Baez Sosa family. However, the family's lawyers have said that they are considering an appeal for the lesser 15-year sentences, instead of the life sentences they sought for all defendants. The murder case has reignited discussions about justice and equality in Argentina.

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