Spain's PM: Most social media comments on Catalonia came from Russia

A majority of social media commentary on the Catalonia crisis originated from Russia, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said in a Wednesday interview, renewing concerns about Russian meddling.

"Indeed, 55 per cent of traffic on social [media] came from Russia, 30 per cent from Venezuela and only 3 per cent [...] was from profiles corresponding to real people, the rest were all bots," Rajoy told Italy's La Repubblica newspaper.

A bot is an automated piece of software that can produce online commentary, often used for trolling purposes.

Rajoy's remarks came after his foreign minister, Alfredo Dastis, briefed his European Union counterparts last week in Brussels about Russian "misinformation and manipulation" on the issue of Catalonia.

"I do not want to draw conclusions or make accusations, but this is a serious and real phenomenon," Rajoy told la Repubblica, noting similar incidents ahead of the French presidential elections and Britain's referendum on Brexit, or exit from the EU.

Last month, Catalonia held an unauthorized referendum and its parliament voted for independence. In response, Rajoy dismissed the entire Catalan administration, in an unprecedented constitutional crisis.

Deposed Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and his ministers were charged with sedition and threatened with long jail sentences. Puigdemont has sought refuge in Belgium and is fighting extradition, while others have been arrested.

Rajoy said he could not comment on the legal process, out of respect for the separation of powers, and said he was "open to dialogue" on more autonomy for Catalonia, but "not prepared to violate national sovereignty."