The Civil Guard arrests businessmen David Madí, Xavier Vendrell, Oriol Soler, the head of Carles Puigdemont’s Office, Josep Alay, the president of the Plataforma Pro-Seleccions Esportives Catalanes and 16 other people for funding the independence movement

The arrests are carried out within the framework of investigating proceedings commenced in 2016 by judge Joaquín Aguirre, from Investigating Court number 1 from Barcelona, termed “Cas Volhov”, on a mix of different facts. In particular, the investigation focuses on the contribution of the detainees in the funding of the independence movement, on their alleged implication in the search for 10,000 Russian soldiers to achieve independence, an alleged case of urban corruption in Cabrera de Mar and its link with Tsunami Democràtic. According to a press release issued by the Guardia Civil and the Ministry of Interior, 21 people are arrested as alleged perpetrators of embezzlement of public funds, perverting the course of justice and of money laundering 48 hours after the raid, the 21 detainees were released without charges and without interim measures.