Basque Government Grants Daily Semi-Freedom to Joseba Pagaza's Murderer
The Basque Government has authorized Gurutz Agirresarobe, the ETA member convicted of murdering socialist politician Joseba Pagazaurtundua in 2003, to leave Basauri prison daily under Article 100.2 of the Penitentiary Regulations. This decision allows Agirresarobe to exit the facility at 8:00 a.m. and return by 9:30 p.m. for alleged social integration purposes, despite serving only a fraction of his 30-year sentence, which is scheduled to end in 2033. The move follows a failed attempt by the regional Justice Department to grant him third-degree status, which was blocked by the Prosecutor’s Office as hasty and fraudulent. Additionally, Agirresarobe recently enjoyed a weekend home permit. Critics, including victim associations, argue that the Basque Government is ignoring judicial concerns and accelerating the release of terrorists without adequate proof of rehabilitation or compensation to victims. The case highlights ongoing tensions between regional penal policies and national legal oversight regarding ETA prisoners, with judges noting irregularities in similar semi-freedom applications for other convicted kidnappers.
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Basque Government Grants Daily Semi-Freedom to Joseba Pagaza's Murderer
The Basque Government has authorized Gurutz Agirresarobe, the ETA member convicted of murdering socialist politician Joseba Pagazaurtundua in 2003, to leave Basauri prison daily under Article 100.2 of the Penitentiary Regulations. This decision allows Agirresarobe to exit the facility at 8:00 a.m. and return by 9:30 p.m. for alleged social integration purposes, despite serving only a fraction of his 30-year sentence, which is scheduled to end in 2033. The move follows a failed attempt by the regional Justice Department to grant him third-degree status, which was blocked by the Prosecutor’s Office as hasty and fraudulent. Additionally, Agirresarobe recently enjoyed a weekend home permit. Critics, including victim associations, argue that the Basque Government is ignoring judicial concerns and accelerating the release of terrorists without adequate proof of rehabilitation or compensation to victims. The case highlights ongoing tensions between regional penal policies and national legal oversight regarding ETA prisoners, with judges noting irregularities in similar semi-freedom applications for other convicted kidnappers.
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