The Argentine Republic continues to comply with the discovery process ordered by New York Judge Loretta Preska in the context of the trial for the expropriation of YPF, which is being heard before the Southern District Court of New York. The National Treasury reported this. According to official sources, fulfilling this procedural stage has required almost two years of coordinated and systematic work and involved the production of more than 110,000 pieces of evidence, including documents and official communications. All of this was done within the framework of the Argentine State's commitment to act in accordance with the law and respect judicial decisions. Regarding the order related to the personal devices and accounts of officials, Preska's order on this point was appealed to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, and a brief with strong arguments from the Argentine position was filed. Despite this, the National Treasury clarified that progress was made in complying with said order, within the legal possibilities of the Argentine State and with strict respect for the limits established by the National Constitution. In this sense, they specified that the persons affected by the information requests chose to cooperate or, in their case, refrain from providing personal communications, among other things, relying on Article 18 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to privacy and the inviolability of correspondence. Nevertheless, official sources informed that “starting January 15, an unprecedented and disproportionate request for contempt against the Republic of Argentina will begin.” Although they clarified that “no such request has any real legal effect until the country can exercise its defense and the issue is analyzed and, if applicable, resolved by Judge Preska.” Burford Capital's insistence on this type of claim does not seem to be aimed at enforcing a sentence that is under appeal and pending resolution before the Court of Appeals, but at subjecting Argentina to intrusive and disproportionate demands, with the objective of generating political and media pressure, indicated from the Treasury. They warned that this behavior is framed in the declared attempt to “put sand in the gears” of the country's normalization process, which exceeds any legitimate legal purpose. This is added to the deterioration that Burford Capital's shares would have suffered after the appeal hearing held before the Second Circuit of New York in October, a circumstance that could have intensified internal pressure from its own investors. From the National Treasury, they anticipated that they will inform in a timely manner about each of the filings made by the plaintiffs and about the arguments that the Argentine defense will maintain, making use of all legal tools available for the protection of the State's interests. Likewise, they urged public opinion to rely exclusively on information from official sources. They recalled that, in accordance with the agreed schedule by the parties, the filing of briefs will extend at least until March, so no judicial decision is expected before that date.
