Particle.news
Download on the App Store

ECHR Unanimously Backs Spain on Catalan Leaders’ Pretrial Detention and Political Restrictions

The court deemed the measures proportionate to prevent reoffending, safeguarding democratic order.

Overview

  • The judgment rejects complaints by Jordi Sànchez, Jordi Turull and Oriol Junqueras over limits on campaigning, parliamentary activity and investiture during preventive detention.
  • The court found no breach of Articles 3 of Protocol No. 1, 5, 10 or 18 of the European Convention, deeming Spanish rulings relevant, non‑arbitrary and justified.
  • Judges said the restrictions aimed to prevent reoffending and destruction of evidence, assessing them as proportionate to the gravity and context of the 2017 events.
  • The panel ruled that allowing Sànchez to attend an investiture was not reasonable given the risk of renewed serious incidents following the September 2017 unrest.
  • The seven‑judge chamber, presided by Katerina Simácková and including Spain’s María Elósegui, consolidated the three cases, with a separate appeal on the 2019 convictions still pending.