A Spanish Supreme Court judge in Madrid has begun questioning jailed leaders of Catalonia’s independence drive who are seeking to be released from custody ahead of a regional election later this month.
Supreme Court magistrate Pablo Llarena on Friday began reviewing the jailing of eight members of the dissolved regional government and two prominent activists. Catalan Vice President Oriol Junqueras is among those imprisoned.
The eight politicians are facing charges of sedition, rebellion and misappropriation of funds after the Catalan government declared independence from Spain.
The two activists are facing sedition charges for their roles in the demonstrations in Barcelona.
Both groups requested the court appearance because most of them are running for office in the December 21 regional election that Madrid called after its crackdown on Catalonia.
