This archive report was first published on 14 October 2019.
On October 14, 2019, Spain's Supreme Court handed down prison sentences to nine Catalan separatist leaders for their role in the 2017 independence referendum.
The court found the leaders guilty of sedition, with sentences ranging from nine to 13 years in prison.
Three other defendants were found guilty of disobedience but will not serve prison sentences.
The 12 politicians and activists had all denied the charges, but the prosecution had sought up to 25 years in prison for Oriol Junqueras, the former vice-president of Catalonia.
Separatists in Catalonia had planned mass civil disobedience ahead of the verdict.
