Carles Puigdemont

Carles Puigdemont, the separatist leader of Catalonia, is in exile in Belgium after his government declared independence from Madrid.

Catalonia's ousted leader, Carles Puigdemont, said Tuesday that he and several ministers left "to avoid the threats." Hours later, a Spanish judge summoned them for interrogation in a sedition probe.

Police escorted some members of the Catalan government out of their offices, as the ongoing crisis over Catalonia's independence claim continues to create uncertainty.

The Spanish government, however, said the vote will not happen "because it is illegal." The region held a largely symbolic independence vote in 2014, which passed overwhelmingly, but turnout was low.