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Catalan separatist Carles Puigdemont arrested in Italy Catalan separatist Carles Puigdemont arrested in Italy
(about 3 hours later)
Carles Puigdemont has been living in self-imposed exile in BelgiumCarles Puigdemont has been living in self-imposed exile in Belgium
Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont has been detained in Sardinia on a Spanish arrest warrant. Exiled Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont has been detained in Italy on a Spanish arrest warrant.
Spain has accused him of sedition, saying he helped organise an illegal independence referendum in 2017. Spain has accused him of sedition for a breakaway independence referendum in 2017 that the courts ruled illegal.
Mr Puigdemont, the ex-president of the Spanish region of Catalonia, fled Spain after the vote. He now lives in Belgium and sits as an MEP. At the time he was president of Catalonia but fled to Belgium after the vote. He lives there and sits as a member of the European Parliament.
He is expected to appear in court on Friday, his lawyer says, and could be extradited. Police were apparently waiting for him at Sardinia's Alghero airport and he is due in court in the coming hours.
The 2017 referendum prompted a political crisis in Spain, with the Catalan regional parliament declaring independence from the country, and Madrid imposing direct rule over the region. Mr Puigdemont had travelled to the Mediterranean island for a Catalan folklore festival, his lawyer said.
Catalan crisis in 300 words A judge in Sardinia will have to decide whether he should be released or extradited.
Mr Puigdemont initially had immunity from prosecution after being elected as a member of the European Parliament in 2019, but was stripped of that in March. The 2017 referendum prompted Spain's deepest political crisis for decades, with the Catalan regional parliament declaring independence, and Madrid then imposing direct rule over the region.
His office said he was arrested at Alghero airport on Thursday afternoon after being stopped by Italian border police. Mr Puigdemont had travelled to attend a Catalan folklore festival, his lawyer said. CRISIS IN CATALONIA: A brief guide to Spain's regional crisis
After Mr Puigdemont and two ministerial colleagues fled, Spain jailed nine other Catalan leaders for sedition for their role in the breakaway vote. They were pardoned by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in June.
Madrid failed in its court bid to extradite Mr Puigdemont and two ministerial colleagues and they were later elected to the European Parliament in 2019.
As MEP the Catalan ex-leader initially had immunity from prosecution but the Parliament voted to strip him of that last March.
The question facing the Italian judiciary is whether the extradition warrant is still valid.
Catalonia's new president Pere Aragones - also a separatist - condemned what he called the "persecution" of Mr Puigdemont.Catalonia's new president Pere Aragones - also a separatist - condemned what he called the "persecution" of Mr Puigdemont.
"In the face of persecution and judicial repression, the strongest condemnation. It has to stop," he tweeted.
Catalonia's ex-president on life 'on the run'Catalonia's ex-president on life 'on the run'
Mr Puigdemont's arrest is uncomfortable for the Spanish government, says the BBC's Guy Hedgecoe in Madrid. The left-wing coalition in Madrid had just started engaging in talks with the Catalan government in an attempt to calm tensions and find a long-term solution to the crisis.
The Spanish government said in a statement: "The arrest of Mr Puigdemont corresponds to an ongoing judicial procedure that applies to any EU citizen who has to answer to the courts."The Spanish government said in a statement: "The arrest of Mr Puigdemont corresponds to an ongoing judicial procedure that applies to any EU citizen who has to answer to the courts."
He should "submit to the action of justice like any other citizen", it added.He should "submit to the action of justice like any other citizen", it added.
Catalonia is one of Spain's richest, most distinctive regions and has enjoyed a high degree of autonomy. But many Catalans feel they pay more to Madrid than they get back, and there are historical grievances too, in particular Catalonia's treatment under the dictatorship of General Franco.Catalonia is one of Spain's richest, most distinctive regions and has enjoyed a high degree of autonomy. But many Catalans feel they pay more to Madrid than they get back, and there are historical grievances too, in particular Catalonia's treatment under the dictatorship of General Franco.