Pictures of former Argentine president's wife beaten up surface as he faces gender violence lawsuit

Pictures have surfaced of Fabiola Yañez, ex-wife of former Argentine President Alberto Fernández, seemingly beaten up by him while in office as she formally accuses him of gender-based violence.

The pictures, obtained by local outlets from the case file, were allegedly sent by Yañez to her then-husband, complaining about the ongoing violence. One shows a bruise in her right armpit, the other one in her right eye.

According to the suit, the episodes took place in August 2021, in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. "This can't go on, you hit me all the time. I can't believe this, I haven't done anything to you. All I try to do is defend you and you physically hit me, there is no explanation for this," reads one of the text messages.

"You have been hitting me for three days straight," she added in another exchange, to which the then-president said "I have trouble breathing. Please stop. I'm feeling unwell." Several other messages of the kind are part of the file.

Evidence about the mistreatment was found by authorities in the context of another investigation about alleged embezzlement by the former president and some of his associates.

The federal judge overseeing the embezzlement case then summoned Yañez, who initially rejected pressing charges before changing her mind and agreeing to do so. Fernández initially rejected his ex-wife's recount following the filing of the suit, saying "the truth of the matter is different."

"Out of respect for the integrity of my children, myself and Fabiola herself I won't make any media statements, but will take the evidence to the courts, proving what really happened." He has not made public statements since the pictures surfaced.

However, public outrage did ensue, with the former president facing heavy criticism from across the political and social spectrum. Adding to the condemnation, a video of him with a public figure in the presidential office during the pandemic also surfaced on Thursday night.

The footage, seemingly filmed by the then-president, shows him asking her questions about their relationship. "You can say something nice to me before you get drunk on that beer," Fernández can be heard saying at one point. "I love you, I told you. Do you want me to say more?" the woman, Tamara Pettinato, says.

Pettinato had faced public criticism during the pandemic after her name showed up in the presidential residence's visitor log while transit was heavily restricted. "I won't say what the reason was and what topics we discussed because it's private and I don't feel like I have to explain," she said back then.