Catalan leaders to be conditionally released by Belgian authorities

Ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and four close allies have been conditionally released by Belgian authorities but cannot leave Belgium without prior consent.

The five were heard by an investigative judge Sunday afternoon and evening after they voluntarily turned themselves in to authorities, only days after Spain had issued a European arrest warrant.

A statement from the prosecutor's office says they must stay in Belgium and tell authorities where they will reside. They must also attend in person all court hearings and "comply withall summons made by judicial or police authorities."

The five will have to appear in court, where a judge will rule on the full grounds of Spain's request for their extradition. Any decision there can be appealed.

A Spanish judge in Madrid had issued an international arrest warrant lastThursday and ordered themto return fromBelgium to answer charges of rebellion, sedition, misuse of public funds, disobedience and breach of trust relating to their secessionist campaign.

Ousted Catalan president speaks out from Brussels

7 years ago

Duration 2:58

'I am not here to demand political asylum,' says Carles Puigdemont

Spain levelled the charges following Catalonia's declaration of independence on Oct. 27.Eight ministers who stayed behind in the northeastern region of Spainwere jailed Nov. 2 for helping to push through the declaration.

It followed an independence referendum on Oct. 1 that was deemed to be illegal under Spain's constitution.

The central government in Madrid announced it would take direct control of the region as a result, and called for new elections there for Dec. 21. Puigdemont then fled to Belgium on Oct. 30.

Puigdemont wrote in Dutch in his Twitter account on Saturday that he is "prepared to fully co-operate" with Belgian justice following the European arrest warrant issued by Spain.

However, Puigdemont's lawyer in Brussels had previously said that his client plans to fight extradition to Spain without requesting political asylum.

A spokespersonfor the Brussels prosecutor's office, Gilles Dejemeppe, on Sunday saidPuigdemont and his ousted ministers have not been arrested and that they will be heard by an investigative judge Sunday afternoon.

The judge will have to decide what the next steps are within 24 hours. They could vary from arrest and imprisonment to conditional release.