<p><a href="../../../../../catalan-trial/item/independence-leaders-walk-free-following-spain-s-pardons-after-3-5-years-in-prison">Nine independence leaders in Catalonia walked free from prison</a> on Wednesday following Spain’s pardons, having spent 3.5 years behind bars</p>
<p>They were found guilty of sedition, with sentences ranging from 9 to 13 years, for leading Catalonia’s referendum push and attempt to declare independence from Spain in the fall of 2017</p>
<p>The Spanish government pardoned the remaining sentences to help try and overcome years of political division</p>
<p>While pardons fall short of the independence movement’s demands for a general amnesty and a self-determination referendum, the Catalan government has welcomed them as a measure that will help ease the pain caused by the "unfair" sentencing</p> / ACN