Video released of pro-independence officials testifying: 'we never incited violence'

The videos of the testimonials of the former Catalan government, deposed by Spain after a declaration of independence, show all the members defending on various occasions that they never incited violence, nor participated in any violent act to hinder Spanish police or judicial action. 

Made public on Monday by the Catalan News Agency (ACN), the videos show the officials appearing before the Spanish judge Carmen Lamela at the National Court on November 2, just hours before they were to enter prison.

The officials, including former vice-president Oriol Junqueras, defended that they do not believe in violence as a political solution, but rather in dialogue and democracy.

"No violence"

For his part, Junqueras denied having used public money in order to fund last year's October 1 referendum.

"I'm a believer, therefore for me any kind of violence is out of place," Junqueras said before the magistrate.

The former Minister of Culture, Santi Vila, also highlighted how he negotiated with politicians in Madrid in order to find a solution with dialogue so as "to avoid collapse."

Junqueras can also be heard defending himself against the accusations of rebellion, sedition, disobedience and misuse of funds.

Questioning lasted around five minutes for each defendant. Most of them answered to their own lawyers while Vila replied directly to the prosecutor and magistrate Lamela. They replied saying that there had not been enough time to prepare a defence, and denied in participating or inciting violent acts, and no public money spent on referendum.

There are currently nine Catalan leaders in pre-trial detention over their role in last year's push for independence. 

"Not reasonable"

Spanish vice president Carmen Calvo has said that it would not be "reasonable" for pro-independence leaders to be kept behind bars if their trial gets delayed.

"The fact that they’re in jail—this doesn’t help. If the trial gets delayed, other measures could be taken. The judge could think about it, it would be reasonable," said Calvo in an interview with the Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia on Sunday. 

Accused of rebellion for organizing a referendum and declaring independence despite Spain’s opposition, some Catalan leaders have been imprisoned for almost a year while awaiting trial.