Nine Catalan separatist leaders who were jailed for their role in a 2017 referendum were released from prison on June 23 after the Spanish government granted them pardons.

The leaders were greeted by a large media presence outside Centre Penitenciari dels Lledoners.

Pere Aragonès, President of Catalonia, tweeted: "Today is a day of joy. For political prisoners, for their families. After three and a half years, they regain their freedom, but we must continue to work for amnesty, for the return of the exiles and for building an independent, just, green, prosperous and feminist Catalonia."

Nine Catalan separatist leaders who were jailed for their role in organising the unsanctioned 2017 referendum and subsequent declaration of independence have left prison after the Spanish Government granted them pardons in an attempt to bridge divides between both sides.

President of the autonomous Catalan Government Pere Aragonès met with the majority of the leaders after they left the gates of Lledoners prison. Raul Romeva, Jordi Turull, Jordi Cuixart, Oriol Junqueras, Joaquim Forn, Jordi Sanchez, and Josep Rull left the prison, approximately one hour outside of Barcelona, together amid a large media presence.

Pro-Independence supporters had also gathered outside the prison.