The Supreme Court of Spain sentenced multiple leaders associated with the protests for the secession of Catalonia. Most of them have been sentenced for 'sedition'.
The longest prison term - 13 years - went to the former deputy leader of the Catalan regional government, Oriol Junqueras. The court convicted Junqueras and eight other leaders on charges of sedition and four of them of misuse of public funds, the court ruling showed.
(Photograph:Reuters)
Separatist protests have been largely peaceful but police sources have said authorities are prepared for any violence. Outside the Lledoners prison in the Catalan town of Sant Joan de Villatorrada where the leaders were being held, people embraced each other after learning the Supreme Court's verdict.
(Photograph:Reuters)
The government has said it is ready to take direct control of Catalonia as it did in 2017 if secessionist leaders break the law. The ruling is likely to colour a national election on November 10, Spain's fourth in four years, and influence the direction taken by the separatist movement.
(Photograph:Reuters)