Independence Votes

• 

  "Most Secret In Russian History": Independent Vote Monitor On Presidential Polls

  The head of an independent vote-monitoring group that Russia has labelled a "foreign agent" says the presidential election that began on Friday and is widely expected to re-elect Vladimir Putin is the least transparent the country has seen.

• 

  Catalan Leader Suspends Declaration Of Independence

  Catalonia's leader Carles Puigdemont said Tuesday he accepted the "mandate of the people" for the region to become "an independent republic," but proposed suspending its immediate implementation to allow for dialogue.

• 

  Catalans Signal They May Declare Independence Within A Week

  Catalan separatist leaders signaled they may be moving toward a unilateral declaration of independence as early as this week after hundreds of activists were injured on Sunday as they sought to stop Spanish police from shutting down an illegal referendum.

• 

  Police Force Way Into Polling Station Where Catalan Leader Was To Vote

  Spanish police in riot gear seized ballot boxes and surrounded activist-held polling stations in Catalonia Sunday as thousands flooded the streets to vote in an independence referendum banned by Madrid.

• 

  Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon Demands New Independence Vote Before Brexit

  Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today demanded a new Scottish independence referendum to be held in late 2018 or early 2019, once the terms of Britain's exit from the European Union have become clear.

• 

  Scotland Could Hold Independence Vote in 2018: First Minister Nicola Sturgeon

  Scotland could hold an independence referendum in autumn 2018, just months before the United Kingdom is due to leave the European Union, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told the BBC.

• 

  Scottish Opposition Insists No New Independence Vote

  Scotland's opposition leader insisted Saturday there should be no second referendum on Scottish independence, urging the governing nationalists to concentrate on making the best of Brexit rather than exploiting it for another secession push.

• 

  'Forget It,' London Tells Scots Who Want Second Independence Vote

  London will not help Scotland hold another referendum on seceding from the United Kingdom before 2020, British defence minister Michael Fallon said on Thursday, prompting a row with Scotland's pro-independence devolved government.

• 

  British Prime Minister David Cameron Rules Out Another Scottish Independence Vote

  British Prime Minister David Cameron on Sunday ruled out giving Scotland another independence referendum despite spectacular gains by Scottish nationalists in a UK-wide election, saying Scots had "emphatically" rejected a breakaway only last year.

• 

  Catalonia Weighs Early Election After Symbolic Independence Vote

  The head of the Catalan government held talks with other senior politicians on Thursday on whether to hold early elections in the Spanish region after a symbolic weekend independence vote.

• 

  Catalan Leader Seeks World Support for Independence Drive

  Catalan government head Artur Mas urged the world help him persuade Spain to allow it an independence referendum, after over two million people took part in a symbolic ballot on Sunday.

• Nearly Two Million Vote on Catalan Independence as Polls Near Close

  Nearly two million people had voted on Sunday as polling neared its close in Catalonia's disputed symbolic ballot on independence from Spain, the regional government said.

• 

  Catalan Independence Hopes High in Symbolic Vote on Split From Spain

  Hundreds of thousands of Catalans are expected to back independence from Spain on Sunday in a symbolic referendum on secession that they hope will propel the issue further despite opposition from Madrid.

• Scottish Nationalists Must Rule Out Repeat Referendum: UK Minister

  Scottish nationalists must rule out holding another referendum on independence to prevent damaging uncertainty hanging over the future of the United Kingdom, Britain's Scotland minister will say on Sunday.

• Sorry, No Freedom At Midnight

  The intensity of the Scottish referendum was lost on me until I visited Glasgow last week.