Basque Government Transfers Former ETA Leader Olarra Guridi to Semi-Freedom Regime. Two former ETA members have been granted the third degree prison regime by the Basque Country government. The decision has sparked protests from victims and criticism towards regional authorities. The issue of approaches to convicted persons has once again become the subject of debate.
A new conflict has erupted in the Basque Country over policy towards former ETA members. The region’s Department of Justice and Human Rights has granted the third prison regime—semi-freedom—to two convicted of terrorism: former ETA military chief Juan Antonio Olarra Guridi and Javier Zabalo Beitia. Both will now be able to leave prison daily, returning only to spend the night from Monday to Thursday.
The authorities’ decision has already faced harsh criticism from the Covite terrorism victims’ association. The organization called the move to grant semi-freedom “fraudulent” and demanded the resignation of Justice Department head María Jesús San José. According to Covite, the regional government’s actions contradict decisions by the National Court, which has previously adjusted similar measures regarding convicted ETA members.
Particular attention has focused on Olarra Guridi’s switch to the third regime. This former head of ETA’s military wing was arrested in France in 2002 and convicted in Spain for a series of terrorist attacks that killed at least ten people. Despite a total sentence of hundreds of years, by law he cannot serve more than 30 years in prison—the term expires in July 2036. In recent months, Olarra Guridi had already benefited from partial leniency, and now has been granted a freer regime, provided he stays away from Madrid, Seville, and Burgos—the cities where the crimes were committed—and has no contact with the victims.
The case materials note that both convicts wrote letters of apology to the victims. In his letters, Olarra Guridi emphasizes his willingness to participate in processes of restoration and mitigation of the consequences of the crimes committed. Professional reports by penitentiary services record positive dynamics in the behavior of both prisoners, as well as their participation in resocialization programs and compliance with the conditions of temporary releases from prison.
It is also considered significant that Olarra Guridi played a key role in changing the attitude of the ETA prisoner community towards public celebrations of released organization members — the so-called ongi etorri. After a series of meetings with representatives of the Forum Social, a collective appeal was published in 2021 to limit such events to private spaces and close circles. This decision was supported by the majority of prisoners, with the exception of a small group that disagreed with the rejection of violence.
As for Xabier Zabalo Beitia, his prison term is nearing its end — eight months remain until completion of his sentence. Authorities note his positive participation in programs, support from family and employment, as well as payments on civil claims. In his letter to the victims, Zabalo acknowledges the consequences of his actions and expresses his intention to prove the sincerity of his remorse through his actions.
According to the latest data, 113 people convicted of participating in ETA remain in Spanish and French prisons, with 108 of them held in facilities in the Basque Country. The issue of approaches to their reintegration and measures regarding former members of the organization continues to be the subject of heated debate. In the context of other high-profile cases involving government actions and judicial decisions, it is worth noting that the case against former Prime Minister Zapatero has also caused a wide public outcry and sparked discussions about the limits of responsibility and approaches to amnesty.
For reference: the third regime (semilibertad) in Spain allows convicts to leave prison during the day for work or participation in resocialization programs, returning for overnight stays. The decision to grant this regime is made by regional departments but can be challenged by the prosecutor’s office. The use of this regime for former ETA members regularly prompts disputes among victims, authorities, and human rights advocates.
