Ex-leader Puigdemont, ex-ministers held in Belgium

BRUSSELS — Ousted Catalan President Carles Puigdemont and four former Catalan ministers have been conditionally released, the Brussels prosecutor’s office said early Monday, hours after they turned themselves in to Belgian police.

The five are prohibited from leaving Belgium without the consent of a judge and must also provide a real address and attend all court hearings in person, the prosecutor’s office said.

The five former Catalan leaders were taken into custody in Belgium of their own accord Sunday morning, days after Spain had issued European arrest warrants for them.

“They were taken into custody at 9:17 am — so this morning,” said Gilles Dejemeppe, a spokesman for the Brussels prosecutor’s office. “This afternoon, the persons involved will be heard by the investigative judge.”

The judge had 24 hours from the time of the five ex-leaders being taken into custody to make a decision on how to proceed with executing Spain’s extradition request.

Puigdemont and his ministers absconded to Belgium last weekend, shortly before Spanish prosecutors leveled charges against all 14 members of his deposed government for insurrection against the state, rebellion and misappropriation of public funds.

A Spanish judge issued European arrest warrants on Friday night after Puigdemont and the four former ministers failed to testify Thursday in Madrid at a hearing for alleged crimes linked to their drive for independence in Catalonia.

Puigdemont and his Cabinet were fired and the Catalan Parliament dissolved late last month in an unprecedented measure taken by Madrid hours after the regional parliament declared independence.

Catalonia, a wealthy region in northeast Spain with its own distinct culture and language, held a referendum on independence on Oct. 1, despite Spain’s Supreme Court ruling that the vote was illegal.

A vast majority voted for independence, but the legitimacy of the result has been called into question.