Basque militant released in landmark ruling

Europe’s top human rights court has ordered Spain to release a Basque separatist militant, saying her extended detention was illegal, a ruling victims groups warned would let dozens of prisoners walk free.

The Strasbourg-based court also told Madrid to pay €30,000 compensation to Ines del Rio, who was jailed in 1989 for her role in 23 assassinations and car bombings carried out by the Basque independence movement ETA.

Del Rio had been scheduled for early release in 2008, but courts extended her detention and those of dozens of ETA members.