Former Catalan chief Carles Puigdemont (center) at a press conference in Brussels on October 31, 2017 (Photo: AFP/ VNA)

Belgian prosecutors said Puigdemont and the others had to appear in court within 15 days of their release. Belgium has 60 days to decide whether to send them back to Spain under the rules of the European arrest warrant system.

On Monday, the Spanish government announced it will respect Belgium’s decision and said it will wait for the verdict of the court on the execution of Spain’s arrest warrant.