Video: Spain Must "Respect Democracy And International Treaties" - Puigdemont Insist

Carles Puigdemont

Spain must "respect democracy and international treaties" and "comply with UN resolutions" by releasing political prisoners, urged former Catalonian leader Carles Puigdemont at a Berlin press conference.

 According to news.com.au, he also called on Saturday for "negotiation based on mutual respect," a reference to Catalonia's controversial bid for independence, which led the Spanish government to crack down and seek Puigdemont's forced return after he fled the country last year.

Puigdemont, 55, was detained on March 25 on a European arrest warrant issued by Madrid, which accuses him of rebellion and misuse of public funds for organising an independence referendum in Catalonia in October. He was travelling by car through Germany at the time, from Finland to Belgium, where he has lived since fleeing Spanish justice last year.

A German court ruled on Thursday that extradition was not permissible on the basis of the rebellion charge, because the comparable German charge of treason stipulates that the defendant must have committed violence.

But Puigdemont could still be extradited on the misuse of public funds charge, which relates to questions about the legality of the referendum.

He said on Saturday he plans to remain in Germany while the courts consider the Spanish extradition request.

After the process ends, he says he plans to return to Belgium and resume his "activities in exile."

In the meantime, Puigdemont, who had to pay 75,000 euros ($A120,135) in bail, has been ordered to remain in Germany, report weekly to police and inform authorities of any change in his address.

Supporters lined up in the German capital on Saturday - amid a throng of journalists - to hear the statement from the recently incarcerated leader.

A demonstration against his still-possible extradition to Spain was also planned in the northern town of Neumuenster, where Puigdemont had been held following his arrest on March 25.

The Spanish Supreme Court is considering appealing to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg for a preliminary ruling on the case.

Watch video below:

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