Germany moves to formally end Puigdemont extradition case

Ousted Catalan president Carles Puigdemont appears on a giant screen during an event of his political platform 'Junts per Catalunya' to mark the official start of the electoral campaign for the Catalan regional election in Barcelona, Spain, Monday, Dec. 4, 2017. Campaigning officially begins at midnight Monday, and in the hours before that moment Catalan pro-independence groups hope to stage protests in front of town halls across the region against the Supreme Court's decision on the detained separatists. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

20th July 2018

Spain has withdrawn the European arrest warrant for former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, German prosecutors have said, bringing extradition proceedings against the separatist leader close to a formal conclusion.

Prosecutors in Schleswig said they have asked a state court to formally end the proceedings.

On Thursday, a Spanish supreme court judge dropped extradition requests for Puigdemont and five other politicians wanted on rebellion charges for promoting independence for Catalonia.

Puigdemont was arrested in Germany in March as he travelled from Finland to Belgium, where he fled from Spain last year.

He was freed on condition that he that he report regularly to German police and not leave the country without prosecutors' permission. He has said he wants to return to Belgium.