Catalan separatist leaders released from jail, call for freedom from Spain

 

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 The nine Catalan separatist leaders who were pardoned on Tuesday walked out of jail on Wednesday to support from dozens of people.

Shortly after their release, some of the leaders addressed separate crowds calling for independence from Spain as well as amnesty, saying they would continue to fight for the region.

After being sentenced to jail for their involvement in the failed 2017 independence bid for the region, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced their pardons which are conditional and could be rescinded if they commit any crimes. They are also barred from holding public office. Sanchez said it was done as a goodwill gesture aimed at kickstarting negotiations on solving the political conflict between Madrid and Catalonia.