High Court acquits Batasuna leader of charges of glorifying terrorism

The High Court on Thursday acquitted the former leader of ETA's political wing, Arnaldo Otegi, of charges of glorifying terrorism. The accusation stemmed from a 2004 political rally that the outlawed Batasuna party held in San Sebastián, in the Basque Country.

The court ruled that while pictures of people connected to the terrorist organization were indeed displayed at the act, as well as propaganda in support of ETA being handed out, it was impossible to determine the involvement of Otegi, nor that of the co-accused Joseba Permach and Joseba Álvarez, both of whom are also leading Batasuna figures.

The rally took place in November 2004, a year after Batasuna had been outlawed. The aim was ostensibly to announce a new posture of dialogue, without explicitly condemning ETA violence. At the event, however, which was attended by around 15,000 people, a video was shown that featured a number of the leaders of the terrorist group. The court ruled that "serious doubts" exist as to whether the accused were responsible for the material that was shown and distributed at the act.

Otegi is currently in custody on a separate indictment for trying to reorganize the outlawed Batasuna, as well as charges of organizing financing for ETA.

In early November, at the beginning of this particular trial, Otegi spoke in court to express his most conciliatory note to date regarding a peace process for the northern region, saying that the Basque radical left had "made a move toward a peaceful and democratic path, that we renounce the use of violence and that we advocate democratic solutions."

In March of this year, the High Court sentenced Otegi to two years in prison for a separate charge of glorifying terrorism for his participation in an event in honor of ETA member José María Sagarduy.