The male Catalan prisoners left Soto del Real prison near Madrid at 6:30pm, over four hours after schedule, heading for Catalonia. However, they will still have to spend two nights in Spanish prisons before getting there: the first will be Valdemoro penitentiary and the second, Zuera.
Pro-independence leaders prisoners Oriol Junqueras, Jordi Sànchez, Jordi Cuixart, Jordi Turull, Raül Romeva, Joaquim Forn and Josep Rull were informed of the details this morning. The transfer for Carme Forcadell and Dolors Bassa, who are in Alcalá Meco prison, will be direct. They will all be in Catalonia on Wednesday.
The men will be transferred by ordinary prison transport, which will mean they will have to stay overnight at two penitentiary centres on their way. After leaving Soto del Real at 2pm, they will be driven to Madrid III penitentiary, in Valdemoro, a little more than 50km (30 miles) away. They will stay there tonight.
On Tuesday, in a new transfer, they will be driven to Zuera penitentiary, almost 400km away. They will spend their second night there before their final transfer to Catalonia.
The last stop before Lledoners will be Brians prison, both on Wednesday. The Spanish Ministry of Interior has confirmed the transfer, but their information has been limited to stating that Wednesday, at 9am, they will be in Catalonia.
A number of the prisoners sent tweets about the move through their friends or family. Raül Romeva, for example, said: "The transfer has just started. We're not returning home, we're returning to Lledoners. Here and there, the flagrant violation of rights continues and we continue to be political prisoners. Here and there, we will persist."
Raül: "Acaba de començar el trasllat. No tornem a casa, tornem a Lledoners. Aquí i allà, continua la vulneració flagrant de drets i continuem sent presos polítics. Aquí i allà, persistirem."
— Raül Romeva i Rueda (@raulromeva) 24 de juny de 2019
Jordi Turull wrote: "We're returning to our much missed Catalonia! Thanks to the inmates of unit 10, to the majority of the staff and to father Paulino (an amazing guy) for their treatment [of us]. Infinite thanks to all of you who have passed on your warmth and support and have defended us. #ConvictionsIntact #Acquittal"
Tornem cap a l'enyorada Catalunya! Gràcies als reclusos del mòdul 10, a la majoria de funcionaris i al padre Paulino (un crack) pel seu tracte. Infinites gràcies a tots els que ens heu fet arribar el vostre escalf i suport i ens heu reivindicat #LesConviccionsIntactes #Absolució pic.twitter.com/cdbMHBmrhE
— Jordi Turull i Negre (@jorditurull) 24 de juny de 2019
Vice-president Junqueras wrote: "We're not returning home, we're returning to a prison my rights as an MEP are continuing to be violated."
Junqueras: No tornem a casa, tornem a una presó i es continuen vulnerant els meus drets com a eurodiputat al @Europarl_CAT https://t.co/psbUCZRh0E
— Oriol Junqueras 🎗️ (@junqueras) 24 de juny de 2019