Russian Procés Plot and Puigdemont's Role

The judicial investigation into Catalan independence contacts with Russia is reactivated with new evidence of high-level ties

Barcelona's Court of Instruction No. 1 judge, Jesús Aguirre, has extended the Volhov case investigation, which probes possible illegal financing of the independence process. The ruling reveals data linking Carles Puigdemont's close collaborators, such as Víctor Terradellas and Josep Lluís Alay, with intermediaries of Russian, German, and Italian nationality. These contacts, maintained before and after the October 1 referendum, allegedly served to explore a strategy to destabilize the European Union.

What do the documents reveal about contacts with the Kremlin?

According to the ruling, the goals of this collaboration were to trigger a conflict between the EU and Russia, exploiting the invasion of Ukraine and the limitation of gas supplies. The judicial text states that Russia offered economic and military support to an independent Catalonia, including paying part of the public debt and sending 10,000 soldiers. In exchange, favorable legislation for cryptocurrency businesses was demanded. The ruling mentions that Puigdemont was "astonished" by these offers, although it also indicates he showed antiestéticar.

The role of intermediaries and key meetings

The core of the inquiries centers on meetings held with intermediaries linked to the Kremlin. A notable meeting took place on October 26, 2017, the eve of the Declaration of Independence, at the official residence of the President of the Generalitat. Nikolay Sadovnikov, a businessman from Pilingui's orbit, participated. Before that date, between October 20 and 24, another meeting was held in a Barcelona hotel with Elsa Artadi present. The investigation was reactivated after receiving an anonymous note in December providing new information on the independence movement's ties to Moscow.

Political context: the amnesty law and Junts' demands

This reactivation occurs at a delicate political moment, trinc the approval of the amnesty law in Congress. The Junts party has imposed demands on Pedro Sánchez's Government to exempt those involved in the Volhov and Tsunami judicial cases. The judicial ruling implicates key figures in Puigdemont's circle, suggesting contacts with the Kremlin were made at the highest level. Judge Aguirre has found data identifying people with close personal ties to individuals of Russian nationality, some with links to intelligence services or far-right parties in Europe.

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The judicial investigation points to a Russian government political strategy to destabilize democracy and the EU, using the Catalan secession as a lever. Available data suggests the contacts were not isolated but part of a broader plan including military and economic support for an independent Catalonia. The closure of the investigation phase will depend on whether the Barcelona Audiencia decides to open a trial or archive the case, a decision that could have significant political implications in the Spanish landscape.