Ousted Catalan president Carles Puigdemont has attacked Spain as a state that is flouting democratic principles in his first comments after being conditionally released by a Belgian judge.
Catalonia, a wealthy region in north-eastern Spain with its own distinct culture and language, held an independence referendum on October 1, despite Spain's Supreme Court ruling that the vote was illegal.
Puigdemont and four of his ministers absconded to Belgium last week, shortly before Spanish prosecutors levelled charges against all 14 members of his deposed regional executive for insurrection against the state, rebellion and misappropriation of public funds.
A Spanish judge issued a European arrest warrant on Friday night after Puigdemont and the four former ministers failed to testify in Madrid the day before.
Puidgemont wrote on Twitter that he was "free, and without bail. Our thoughts are with our comrades who have been arrested by a state that has strayed far from democratic practice."
After the five Catalan politicians turned themselves in on Sunday, they were interrogated by a Belgian judge, who decided to release them under certain conditions.
Puidgemont and his colleagues must not leave Belgium without the consent of a judge, must provide a real address and have to attend all court hearings in person, the Prosecutor's Office said.
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