MADRID (AP) — Spain’s Supreme Court has ruled that an imprisoned Catalan politician will remain behind bars despite a European court ruling that his election to the European Parliament gave him immunity.

A lawyer had requested Oriol Junqueras’ release so the separatist leader could travel and take his seat in the EU legislature.

The Spanish Supreme Court said Thursday that Junqueras should not go free since he is serving a prison term after being found guilty of sedition and misuse of public funds in October.

The EU's top court ruled last month that Junqueras acquired immunity from prosecution when he was elected to the European Parliament in May. The Court of Justice said Spanish authorities should have released Junqueras from custody so he could take his seat.

But the European court said Spain’s Supreme Court would have to decide how to apply its ruling given that Junqueras’ status had since changed from that of a suspect in custody to convicted felon.