Supporters expect release of imprisoned Catalan leaders

Record ID: 940188

  • Title: Supporters expect release of imprisoned Catalan leaders
  • Date: 1st December 2017
  • Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (DECEMBER 1, 2017) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** MEDIA IN FRONT OF SUPREME COURT ANDREU VAN DEN EYNDE, DEFENCE LAWYER FOR FORMER VICE PRESIDENT ORIOL JUNQUERAS AND FORMER CATALAN MINISTERS (FRONT, CLOSEST TO WALL OF SUPREME COURT EXTERIOR) DEFENCE LAWYER JAVIER MELERO AND FORMER MEMBER OF THE CATALAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDECAT) FRANCESC HOM
  • Embargoed: 15th December 2017 10:41
  • Keywords: Catalan government prison jail Supreme Court Catalonia independence
  • Location: MADRID, SPAIN
  • City: MADRID, SPAIN
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Crime/Law/Justice
  • Reuters ID: LVA0017A323BB
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Supporters of eight imprisoned former Catalan cabinet members and two separatist activists, currently in custody awaiting trial, said they hoped a Supreme Court judge would release them on Friday (December 1) following an appeal to be released from jail.
    Sacked regional vice-president Oriol Junqueras, one of his ERC party's main candidates for the election, has asked to be allowed to leave jail in order to campaign in the vote which was called by Madrid. Activist Jordi Sanchez is also a candidate for the Junts per Catalunya list led by former president Carles Puigdemont who is in self-imposed exile in Brussels pending a decision on a Spanish arrest warrant.
    Junqueras and seven other former members of the Catalonia regional cabinet were jailed on Nov. 2 pending trial on charges of sedition, rebellion and misappropriation of funds after the Catalan government declared independence from Spain.
    The Oct. 1 referendum, declared unconstitutional by Spain, and the subsequent proclamation of independence by the wealthy northeastern region pushed Spain into its worst political crisis in decades and led Madrid to impose direct rule on Barcelona.
    The leaders of Catalan civic groups Asamblea Nacional Catalana (ANC) and Omnium Cultural Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart - who were imprisoned on October 16 - also testify before the Supreme Court over their role in the independence drive.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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