Three exiled Catalan ministers released in Belgium

A Belgian judge decided on Thursday to release on bail three deposed Catalan ministers wanted by Spain over alleged crimes of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds. Toni Comín, Meritxell Serret and Lluís Puig are free while the court decides whether or not to extradite them to Spain. They will just have to be available at any point that the Belgian justice requires them to be, not leave Belgium, and have a permanent residence in the country.

The Belgian judge’s decision means that all members of the Catalan government wanted by Spain have been released on bail by European courts. A German court decided yesterday that Carles Puigdemont can leave the Neumünster prison where he was being held in custody since March 26, after he was detained in the country. Last week, deposed minister Clara Ponsatí was also released by a Scottish court while her case is being considered.