CATALAN independence supporters greeted Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez as he visited a monument in Latvia commemorating those who fell for the country’s independence.
Lawyer and international human rights expert Linda Mazure posted a video on her Twitter feed showing the unveiling of the Catalonian flag to Sanchez with the caption “Visca Catalunya Iliure!” which translates to “Long live free Catalonia!”.
The clip has almost 36,000 views and has been reshared almost 1200 times.
Welcome of the Spanish Prime Minister @sanchezcastejon to Riga, Latvia! Visca Catalunya lliure! pic.twitter.com/kBKfpmPRVe
— Linda Mazure 🎗️ (Vinotava) (@Vinotava) July 7, 2021
Continuing his tour of the Baltic with Latvia’s prime minister Krisjanis Karins, Sanchez visited Riga to see the monument constructed in 1935 in memory of the soldiers who died in the Latvian War of Independence.
Sanchez recently released nine Catalonian political prisoners who had been jailed for their part in the 2017 independence referendum saying: “With this action, we materially get nine people out of prison, but we symbolically add millions and millions of people to coexistence.”
However, Catalan president Pere Aragones has said: “There is no other solution than the referendum, it is the solution that gives equal conditions and does not force anyone to give up their position.”
Aragones also cited the importance of the Council of Europe (COE), which in a report had called on Spain to cease its repression against the independence movement.
Of the COE, Aragones said: “The Council of Europe, a body of which Spain is a part, concluded that it has the right to ask about the independence of Catalonia and that the sentences of sedition were unfair.”
SNP MP for Dunfermline and West Fife Douglas Chapman has spoken in favour of Catalan Independence in recent weeks in response to the release of the jailed Catalan politicians.
He said: “No-one should stand in the way of democracy and the wishes of the people, nor should violence, intimidation or wrongful incarceration play a part in the democratic process.
“I hope the people of Catalonia do have their say on their own future and the freeing of their political leaders should signal a new kind of relationship based on respect for democracy.”
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