The Kremlin has categorically denied being involved in Catalonia's independence process. That is the response of Vladimir Putin's government to the news stories based on the investigation being carried out by a Spanish judge in the so-called Volhov case which allege a link between the close circles of exiled Catalan president Carles Puigdemont and Moscow officials. "This is just a lie," the Russian government spokesperson said.
"We know nothing about these contacts," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a news conference on Tuesday when asked about The New York Times's revelations about the journey of Puigdemont aide Josep Lluís Alay to the Russian capital in 2019. Peskov said he had no information on any contact by the head of Puigdemont's office with Russian government officials.
In addition, the head of the business department at the Russian embassy in Madrid gave a similar response. In an interview with the EFE agency, Dimitri Sokolov called the accusations "lies and falsehoods". "We've had no contact; there is not and never has been any contact with Puigdemont or his entourage," the Russian diplomat said.
"They are falsehoods"
"We don't know the veracity of these news stories. However, they talk about a level of participation by Russia in the events in Catalonia. We categorically deny this. It is just a lie. They are falsehoods," he said, according to Efe.
The New York Times, in an article published on September 3rd, based on what it called "a European intelligence report" - apparently referring to reports prepared by Spain's Civil Guard within the controversial Volhov investigation - claiming that in Moscow, Joseph Lluís Alay "met with Russian officials, intelligence agents and the grandson of a KGB spy, a very well-connected man."
The article adopts the thesis of the judge in the Volhov investigation, Joaquín Aguirre, that there was Russian assistance in the financing of the independence process. Thus, without clarifying what this assistance from the Kremlin consisted of, it notes that after Alay's trips to Moscow, which took place in 2019, the Democratic Tsunami protest platform emerged.
"It's not a crime"
Josep Lluís Alay has admitted that he made a trip to Russia. "I didn't go to Russia to find a solution for the [Catalan] problem, but rather, we go there because it's a great power. Of course, our mind is looking at things from a pro-independence point of view and will continue like that. And to create an independent state, you need relations with all the countries in the world, and also the two large powers", he stated last Thursday in statements to Catalonia's TV3. “It’s not a crime,” he added.
For his part, Carles Puigdemont has denounced "falsehoods and intoxications" in the Civil Guard report and he classifies this judicial offensive as part of the "Spanish state's dirty war" against the independence movement. Through a statement, the president's office pointed out that the New York Times report bring together leaked material taken out of context, as it only lists messages relating to Russia, when there are many more messages about other countries that are "intentionally omitted". This represents a manipulation that "clearly harms the right to truthful and rigorous information," he said.
Main image, Russian government spokesman denies any involvement in the independence process / Wikimedia