Gabriel was among the Catalonian politicians who organised an independence referendum for the region last October.
Keystone
Anna Gabriel, a leading figure in the Catalonian separatist movement, is reportedly preparing her legal case with a Swiss lawyer specialising in international law.
Gabriel currently resides in the Swiss city of Geneva, according to a report in the the Tages-Anzeiger newspaper, and has to appear in court in Spain later this week.
She is among the Catalan politicians who were called to appear in the Supreme Court in Madrid this Wednesday to give evidence. She and other members of the former left-wing alliance, Candidatura d’Unitat Popular (CUP), could face criminal charges of sedition and rebellion after organising an independence referendum for Catalonia in violation of the Spanish constitution last October.
Gabriel’s lawyer Olivier Peter confirmed his client is currently in Geneva but declined to comment further on the case.
Gabriel could apply for asylum in Switzerland. Alternatively, Spain could request her extradition as part of the Schengen agreement with Switzerland. Peter is an expert in both political asylum and extradition cases. He previously represented the Basque Nekane Txapartegi and achieved her release from a Zurich prison last year.
According to the Tages-Anzeiger, Gabriel did not say whether she will return to Spain for the trial on Wednesday and announced that she would give a statement to that effect on Tuesday.
More
More
Switzerland ready to help mediate in Catalonia
This content was published on
The Swiss foreign ministry is ready to set up a platform for dialogue between the Spanish Government and the Catalan authorities, according to the Swiss public television RTS. The ministry confirmed to RTS that the Swiss authorities are “in contact with both parties”. In principle, it said, it examines all arbitration requests and reacts positively…
Is reforming the Swiss pension system still possible, and if so, how?
Solutions still need to be found to meet the challenge of an ageing population and to improve the pensions of low-paid workers, the majority of whom are women.
New European space tech centre in Switzerland launches its first project
This content was published on
The European Space Deep-Tech Innovation Centre (ESDI), launched in collaboration with the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), is to be located in the immediate vicinity of the PSI in northern Switzerland.
Swiss Federal Railways launches campaign for safety on public transport
This content was published on
The Swiss Federal Railways is launching a campaign for greater respect and safety on public transport, with posters to go up in stations and on trains starting next week.
Swiss scientists to use AI for improved weather and climate forecasts
This content was published on
MeteoSwiss and the Swiss Data Science Center have signed a four-year agreement to make greater use of AI in meteorology and climatology going forward.
This content was published on
Prices of owner-occupied homes rose in the third quarter of 2024 by 0.5%, with inflation affecting both apartments and single-family houses, says the Federal Statistical Office.
This content was published on
The honey harvest is projected to be lower than usual this year, as Swiss beekeepers report harvesting an average of just 16kg of honey per bee colony.
More young refugees in Switzerland following vocational training
This content was published on
More than half of young refugees and temporarily admitted persons between the ages of 16 and 25 are now in training. This is significantly more than five years ago.
One in five Swiss children suffers psychological abuse at home
This content was published on
In Switzerland, one in five children suffers psychological violence, and one in three has witnessed psychological violence between parents, says the association Kinderschutz Schweiz.
Swiss government minister breaks silence over Trump remarks controversy
This content was published on
Transport Minister Albert Rösti explained himself in a television interview on Sunday evening, after being called out for expressing support for Donald Trump.
Swiss Covid expert calls for caution on vaccination recommendations
This content was published on
The head of the vaccination commission would be “even more cautious today” when it comes to Covid-19 vaccination recommendations.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Of bludgeons and ballots: Swiss media react to Catalan vote
This content was published on
After a dramatic day in Catalonia, almost all Swiss newspapers on Monday carried front-page stories about the contentious vote.
This content was published on
Political scientist Daniel Warner questions Switzerland’s brand of direct democracy if the people don’t elect the country’s seven-member cabinet.
This content was published on
To understand the ‘Catalan question’ it is important to bear in mind that until recently Catalonian society was roughly split into three parts. One-third was formed by the communion of the rural population and the urban middle and upper classes who feel that Catalonia is a stand-alone nation due to its own language and culture,…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.