Spain’s state prosecutor has requested a European arrest warrant for ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and four others over their role in a disputed independence referendum.

All five failed to show up at Spain’s high court on accusations of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds.

According to BBC News, Mr. Puigdemont’s lawyer said the climate was “not good” for him to appear.

Nine other sacked members of Catalonia’s regional government did turn up for questioning at the court. Prosecutors in Madrid asked for eight of them to be jailed over their role following their testimony.

Spain has been gripped by a constitutional crisis since the referendum was held on October 1 in defiance of a constitutional court ruling that had declared it illegal.

Last week, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy imposed direct rule on Catalonia, dissolving the regional parliament and calling snap local elections for December 21.