- Title: Puigdemont says Belgian authorities have allowed him to remain free without bail
- Date: 18th October 2019
- Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (OCTOBER 18, 2019) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE IN BRUSSELS SIGN READING (French and Dutch): "PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE" JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Catalan) FORMER CATALAN PRESIDENT, CARLES PUIGDEMONT, SAYING: "I appeared before the judge and he set the conditions for my freedom with no bail. I can't leave the country without his knowledge, he noted my place of residence and I should be able to provide any details if required. This is the start of a process within the Belgian justice system that will end with a decision on the arrest warrant." PUIGDEMONT TALKING TO REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FORMER CATALAN PRESIDENT, CARLES PUIGDEMONT, SAYING: (ABOUT THE GENERAL STRIKE AND MARCHES IN CATALONIA) "Before appearing before the judge, I saw that there were a lot of people (who joined the marches) and I will to try and follow the news as it is an important day." VARIOUS OF PUIGDEMONT TALKING TO REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FORMER CATALAN PRESIDENT, CARLES PUIGDEMONT, SAYING: "I think I have always said -- and I challenge you to find any ambiguous statements from me in this regard -- I have always said and always will say this because I have an ethical commitment to oppose violence. Always." PUIGDEMONT LEAVING
- Embargoed: 1st November 2019 10:52
- Keywords: Spain crisis Catalonia protests Puigdemont arrest warrant
- Location: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- City: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- Country: Belgium
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice
- Reuters ID: LVA001B1MKN5Z
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Catalonia's former leader Carles Puigdemont, who fled to Belgium after a failed bid for independence, told reporters on Friday (October 18) that Belgian authorities had allowed him to remain free without bail after Spain's supreme court targeted him with a European arrest warrant.
Puigdemont handed himself to police earlier in the day after Spain issued the warrant for pushing an independence referendum ruled illegal by Spanish courts in October 2017.
Earlier this week, nine Catalan leaders were sentenced to lengthy jail terms for their roles in it. That has sparked a rise in tensions between Madrid and Catalonia in recent days, with hundreds of thousands of demonstrators protesting in the region.
Asked about the marches across Catalonia on Friday, the fifth day of protests against the jailing of the nine separatist leaders, Puigdemont said he had seen a lot of people joining the marches before he appeared before the judge.
He condemned the sustained street violence in the region, the worst Spain has seen in decades.
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