Story highlights Ex-Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont says he'll "fully cooperate with Belgian justice"

Madrid has suspended Catalonia's autonomy and sacked the regional government

(CNN) A Spanish judge issued an international arrest warrant for ousted Catalan President Carles Puigdemont on Friday, a day after eight fellow members of the dissolved Catalan government were jailed in Spain.

Puigdemont, who considers himself the rightful leader of Catalonia, is currently in Belgium. He has said he's not fleeing the Spanish court system but instead is seeking European support for his region's independence bid.

Puigdemont tweeted Saturday that he and his associates are "prepared to fully cooperate with Belgian justice following the European arrest warrant issued by Spain."

Spain was plunged into its worst political crisis in decades after Puigdemont's administration held an independence referendum October 1 despite the nation's highest court banning the move.

The Catalan parliament then declared unilateral independence, and Madrid responded by suspending the region's autonomy, sacking the government and imposing direct rule.

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