Assange was one of the international public figures who supported the 2017 independence referendum and condemned the violent conduct of Spanish police during the vote. According to Torra, “respect for liberty and, above all, freedom of expression, have to be the pillars of the European Union.”

Former president Carles Puigdemont also tweeted his support for the Wikileaks founder.

“Human rights, and especially freedom of expression, are once again under attack in Europe,” he added.

British police arrested Assange in the Ecuadorian embassy in London on Thursday, where he had sought asylum for the past seven years. Assange, who is wanted in the US over a major leak of government secrets, had his asylum withdrawn after Ecuador claimed he had repeatedly violated international conventions.

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