Carles Puigdemont arrested in Sardinia | DW News

Former president of the Catalan state government, Carles Puigdemont, was arrested in Sardinia on Thursday.

His lawyer Gonzalo Boye confirmed his arrest on Twitter saying: "President Puigdemont has been arrested on his arrival in Sardinia where he was going as an MEP." Boye also said that the arrest warrant was dated October 14, 2019.

The Spanish government expressed "its respect for the decisions of the Italian authorities and courts" following the arrest.

Puigdemont along with three Catalan ministers fled Spain in 2017 following an independence referendum. Thats after the Spanish government declared the vote illegal and charged him with sedition.

Puigdemont is a member of the European Parliament and because of that, was protected from prosecution. In March MEPs waived that privilege and he was stripped of his immunity. The separatist politician has lived in Belgium for four years.

He was reportedly in Sardinia to promote Catalan folklore.

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