Spain will brief the European Union on alleged Russian interference in Catalonia during and after its landmark independence referendum in October.

Spanish officials have observed an uptick in pro-Kremlin propaganda aimed at support Catalonia's independence efforts.

There is also some evidence that Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, has tried to manipulate and interfere in the crisis.



BRUSSELS (AP) — Spain's foreign minister says he will brief his European Union counterparts on alleged cyber-meddling from Russian territory and elsewhere aimed at spreading misinformation about the independence push in the northeastern region of Catalonia.

Alfonso Dastis said he would tell the EU's top diplomats Monday in Brussels that data showed internet traffic by media networks "in Russia and other countries" after a banned Oct. 1 secession referendum in Catalonia.

Referring to a recent London meeting between WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and a prominent Catalan pro-independence figure, Dastis also said there were signs that Assange and others "are trying to interfere and manipulate" amid the Catalonia crisis.

Spain said last week that the signs don't necessarily mean the Russian government is involved. Spain's government hasn't provided evidence to back the interference claim.