Politics
JULIAN ASSANGE OVER SEX CRIMES ALLEGATIONS - ASYLUM IN ECUADOR LONDON EMBASSY
ARREST WARANT AGAINST ASSANGE
(Source: Coindesk)
(Source: Wikipedia)
Julian Assange remains in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London after seeking political asylum there in June, 2012. He has refused to return to Sweden for questioning fearing that he will be extradited to the U.S., to face charges of espionage over the release of thousands of classified diplomatic and military cables.
Back in November, 2014, Stockolm's appeal court had rejected a demand by Julian Assange's lawyers to lift the arrest warrant against him, leaving the Wikileaks founder still facing extradiction to Sweden should he renounce his asylum in Ecuador's London Embassy.
Back in November, 2014, Stockolm's appeal court had rejected a demand by Julian Assange's lawyers to lift the arrest warrant against him, leaving the Wikileaks founder still facing extradiction to Sweden should he renounce his asylum in Ecuador's London Embassy.
Julian Assange is wanted on two allegations of sexual molestation and one of unlawful coercion, which fell under the statute of limitations on August 18, 2015, unless he is formally charged. A fourth allegation of rape is valid until 2020. Julian Assange had denied the allegations.
The Ecuador Embassy said in a statement in late August that "On no occasion has any representative of the Kingdom of Sweden presented themselves at the Embassy in relation to the Assange matter".
The Ecuador Embassy said in a statement in late August that "On no occasion has any representative of the Kingdom of Sweden presented themselves at the Embassy in relation to the Assange matter".
One of Assange Swedish defense lawyers, Thomas Olsson, said that "it will not change anything for Assange" since the arrest warrant remains in force. "I believe the case should have been closed long ago because the evidence is weak."
The British Government had made it clear that it will arrest Assange if he steps outside of the Ecuador's Embassy and immediately extradite him back to Sweden. The Metropolitan police have spent an estimated £ 12 million guarding the Embassy since 2012.
The British Government had made it clear that it will arrest Assange if he steps outside of the Ecuador's Embassy and immediately extradite him back to Sweden. The Metropolitan police have spent an estimated £ 12 million guarding the Embassy since 2012.
In the latest in the series of strident comments, Ecuador's President, Rafael Correa, accused the British Government of hypocrysy and said he was prepared for the standoff to last indefinitely even if it risked a loss of UK business and public support. He spelled out three possibilities for the standoff to be broken : for the UK to promise safe conduct to the airport without the threat of arrest ; for Assange to leave asylum of his own accord ; or for the Government in Ecuador to change its mind, which he said would not happen.
Statement by Julian Assange upon hearing the expiry of three allegations "I am extremely disappointed. There was no need for any of this. I am an innocent man. I haven't even been charged. From the beginning I offered a simple solution. Come to the Embassy to take my statement or promise not to send me to the United States. This Swedish official refused both. She even refused a written statement. Now she has managed to avoid hearing my side of the story entirely. This is beyond incompetence...."
Photos
Left : Assange in the Ecuadorian Embassy, London (Aug.2014)
Up right : Ecuadoran Foreign Minister Ricardo Patiño met w/ Assange in Ecuadorian Embassy, 16 June 2013
Right : Demonstration in support of Assange (Sydney Town Hall, 10 Dec. 2010)
Photos
Left : Assange in the Ecuadorian Embassy, London (Aug.2014)
Up right : Ecuadoran Foreign Minister Ricardo Patiño met w/ Assange in Ecuadorian Embassy, 16 June 2013
Right : Demonstration in support of Assange (Sydney Town Hall, 10 Dec. 2010)
Ruby Bird Julian Assange Equador London Embassy Arrest Warant Sex Crimes Allegations Political Asylum Sweden Extradited Classified Diplomatic Military Cables Appeal Court Wikileaks Founder Statute
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