argia.eus
INPRIMATU
On Saturday in Vitoria-Gasteiz the national demonstration to call for the freedom of Barbado and Zelaia
  • In recent weeks, actions have been carried out in different places in the Basque Country to denounce the arrest warrant for young people. In 2019, Alavese youth were arrested by the Ertzaintza. They spent six months in prison until they were conditionally released. The judicial process has been prolonged in four years.
Irati Irazusta Jauregi 2023ko irailaren 28a
Ekainean, Barbado eta Zelaiaren aurkako epaia jakin ostean, Amurrion elkartu ziren 1.300 lagun inguru. (Argazkia: ANkerkeriariStop)

The freedom of Galder Barbado and Aitor Zelaia will be required on Saturday in Vitoria-Gasteiz at the national demonstration convened by the ANkerkatStop platform. He will leave at 18:30 in front of the Artium museum. On the eve of the demonstration, on Thursday, the Ertzaintza held two people in Vitoria during the deployment of mobilisation propaganda, according to Hala Bedi.

To denounce the arrest warrant, the platform called for mobilizations between 18 and 29 September, and they have carried out actions in different places in the Basque Country. Last Friday, for example, the members of Ernai were chained in the police station of the Ertzaintza de Vitoria and in the subdelegation of the Government of Bilbao. On the same day demonstrations were held in Bilbao and Hernani, convened by ANkerkkerkariak Stop. Solidarity gestures have also been made this week, such as the courts in Durangaldea and Ondarroa.

Four-year judicial proceedings

In 2019, the Ertzaintza arrested young Alaveses accusing them of keeping a drum with "explosive materials" for "terrorist purposes". They were held in custody for six months. They were released from office in July 2019, awaiting trial.

The trial took place in January 2021 and the judge demanded four years of imprisonment, one year of probation and ten years of disqualification for Barbado and Zelaia. After two years, following the trial by the judge, an interim sentence was issued in April 2023, confirming the request for four years in prison. Young people have received the arrest warrant in September.

Maddalen Muguruza was interviewed this week at Naiz. He points out that the prolongation of the process "depends on a strategy", "which seeks that the lives of Aitor and Galder be conditioned as long as possible".