In September 2021, the Treatment Commission of the Zaballa de Álava prison granted exit permits to Gorka Loran, a former Basque political prisoner. However, the Central Prison Surveillance Tribunal of the National High Court annulled the authorizations and Olaran appealed to the National High Court. The ruling was handed down by the court presided over by Judge José Ricardo De Prada, who replaced Concepción Espejel with De Prada, and reinstated the exit permit to Olaran. The resolution was drafted by De Prada himself and Judge Francisco Javier Viera voted in particular.

“To repent and apologize to the victims is by no means a legal condition for obtaining prison permits,” says the Hearing. Asking the victims for forgiveness can be an additional “indicative” element to value the “good evolution” of the inmate, but not the “need”. The sentence states that what has to be taken into account is the part of the sentence that the prisoner has already served and the time he lacks to serve the sentence. Olaran served three-quarters of his sentence a long time ago, was imprisoned in 2003 and is due to leave in December 2023.