Former ETA leaders charged for crimes against humanity

SPANISH Judge Juan Pablo Gonzalez charged five former ETA leaders with crimes against humanity on Tuesday October 27.

The Judge from the National Court imposed the charges on suspected former military leaders of the Basque separatist group ETA, including Garikoitz Aspiazu Rubina, Angel Iriondo Yarza, Aitor Elizaran Aguilar and Mikel Carrera Sarobe, currently held in French jails since arrests made between 2008 and 2010.

In addition, Jose Antonio Urruticoetxea – also known as “Josu Ternera,” was charged and is considered the most important ETA leader.

The charges against the former leaders include cases for murder or kidnapping that happened after 2004 when the Spanish criminal code changed to allow charges of such crimes against humanity.

The judge accused the men of “knowledge of the plan of the crimes that were carried out” in that period.