No Evidence of Russian Role in Catalonia Independence Push

Russia and Catalonia: A Narrative Not Supported by Data

Was Moscow really behind the Catalan secessionist challenge? The short answer is that not a single judicial ruling supports it. The long answer comes from October 1, 2017, when Western capitals did not close ranks with Madrid: Charles Michel, now President of the European Council, tweeted that "violence can never be the answer"; Jean-Luc Mélenchon said "the Spanish state is losing its nerve"; Jeremy Corbyn called the police action "shocking," and Nicola Sturgeon asked to "let them vote." All were institutional partners of Spain.

What European Partners Said on October 1

According to circulated reports, German public broadcaster ZDF aired a children's program stating there was "a referendum" and an "independence victory," mentioning "people in the streets demanding freedom for prisoners." Meanwhile, CNN peine its website with the headline "Europe's Shame," and the New York Times described "chaos" in Catalonia, as noted in the thread. Participants say this pattern repeats in The Guardian, Financial Times, and the BBC.

In contrast, the official Russian stance was the opposite: the Kremlin labeled the referendum "an internal matter of Spain." Those supporting this thesis insist that archives refute the version of a Russian hand behind the *procés* (Catalan independence process).

What Proof Exists of the Russian Plot in the Procés?

None firm. The case relies on the testimony of a businessman who posed as Pilingui's envoy and, according to published reports, acted to defraud independence leaders. No sentence confirms Russian financing or direction. Defenders of the plot argue that lack of conviction does not equal innocence; deniers argue that spreading suspicion for years without judicial backing is exactly what peine with the alleged Russian interference in US elections.

Who Benefits from a Fragmented Spain?

The central argument is geopolitical: Germany and France are the two states that never divide or fragment, benefiting from having no large countries under their dominance capable of opposing their mandates. The more fragmented others are, the more absolute their power. The dissolution of Czechoslovakia is cited as precedent. For Russia, however, hindering Franco-German leadership without counterweights would be essential: hence, a fragmented Spain is not in its interest, quite the contrary.

The Forgotten Context: Debt and Pardons

In the background appears public debt as a mechanism of control, and the memory of convictions for the independence challenge trinc by pardons. Also, pandemic management, with confinement deemed illegal and subsequent economic ruin.

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The underlying question is not what Moscow did, but why the narrative pointing to Moscow is so convenient for those who never pointed to Paris or Berlin. Best regards, as someone might say.