Scandal Hits New Ambassador in Israel: Zaliasnik’s Chats with Hermosilla Uncover Plans to Cover ‘Nazi Flank’ of Kast and Alleged Illicit Plot

Original article: Escándalo sacude al nuevo embajador en Israel: Chats de Zaliasnik con Hermosilla revelan desde cubrir “flanco nazi” de Kast hasta presunta trama de ilícitos

«Who Can I Request Reserved Expenses From?»: Chats Between Gabriel Zaliasnik and Luis Hermosilla

«Who can I ask for reserved expenses?» This question was posed by Chile’s current ambassador to Israel, Gabriel Zaliasnik, to lawyer Luis Hermosilla in October 2020, while he was defending then-Health Minister Jaime Mañalich. The conversation is part of previously unreleased chats obtained by Reportea.cl during an investigation by journalists Gabriela Pizarro and Nicolás Sepúlveda.

A lengthy record of messages exchanged between 2016 and 2023 reveals how Zaliasnik took extreme positions during the social upheaval of October 2019. «We need to cut the internet,» he wrote on November 1 of that year, insisting days later, «I would have shut down the internet like in Iran, Turkey, or China.» He also requested to compile «phones and emails of figures of interest like Jadue, Gutiérrez, Riquelme.»

In November 2019, Zaliasnik suggested to Hermosilla a strategy to protect Andrés Chadwick from a constitutional accusation: «Can we gather enough signatures to call for the dismissal of some parliamentarians?» He then added, «They should wiretap and monitor leftist leaders,» specifically mentioning former mayor Daniel Jadue.

The chats also expose efforts to finance the defense of retired General Mario Rozas, former chief of Carabineros, who has been charged with human rights violations. On May 13, 2020, Hermosilla wrote to Zaliasnik: «I’ll make sure ACH (Andrés Chadwick) pushes on the Loreto matter.» Loreto Silva, then president of ENAP, coordinated the payments. Silva resigned from ENAP on June 26, 2020.

Zaliasnik confirmed to Reportea.cl that he received fees for defending Rozas: «For me, it was a source of pride […] as is normal, I received professional fees.» Regarding reserved expenses for Mañalich, he denied having received them: «I never received reserved payments for her.» Silva did not respond to messages from this outlet. Chadwick, through his lawyer, denied «any involvement» in the payment of fees.

The lawyer also intervened in judicial appointments. In May 2020, following a conflict with a judge, he asked Hermosilla: «Lucho, could you give me a push with Lily Leiton?» Minister Lilian Leyton told Reportea.cl that «I will not take responsibility for others’ conversations, but if true, they would reveal a manipulative way of relating that I find despicable.»

In November 2021, Hermosilla offered Zaliasnik the position of Minister of Justice in a potential government of José Antonio Kast. Zaliasnik responded: «Clearly, one cannot decline. […] Besides, I cover the flank against accusations of being a Nazi.» Kast did not appoint him at that time, but five years later, on June 5, 2026, Zaliasnik became ambassador to Israel. The last chat between them was on November 14, 2023, the day the audio of Hermosilla was revealed.

Read the full report at the following link from Reportea.cl

«Who Can I Request Reserved Expenses From?: The Chats That Reveal the Operations on the Edge of the Law of Gabriel Zaliasnik, the New Ambassador in Israel»