After a lengthy legal saga, Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange has regained his freedom. Wikileaks confirmed that its founder has left the UK after reaching a deal with US authorities that will see him plead guilty to criminal charges and go free.
Julian Assange who is 52, was charged with conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence information. For years, the US has argued that the Wikileaks files – which disclosed information about the Iraq and Afghanistan wars – endangered lives.
The Wikileaks founder spent the last five years in a British prison, from where he was fighting extradition to the US. Assange will not spend time in US custody and will receive credit for the time spent incarcerated in the UK.
In a statement on X (formerly twitter), Wikileaks said, “Julian Assange is free. He left Belmarsh maximum security prison on the morning of 24 June, after having spent 1901 days there. He was granted bail by the High Court in London and was released at Stansted airport during the afternoon, where he boarded a plane and departed the UK.”
“This is the result of a global campaign that spanned grass-roots organisers, press freedom campaigners, legislators and leaders from across the political spectrum, all the way to the United Nations. This created the space for a long period of negotiations with the US Department of Justice, leading to a deal that has not yet been formally finalised. We will provide more information as soon as possible.
“After more than five years in a 2×3 metre cell, isolated 23 hours a day, he will soon reunite with his wife Stella Assange, and their children, who have only known their father from behind bars.
“WikiLeaks published groundbreaking stories of government corruption and human rights abuses, holding the powerful accountable for their actions. As editor-in-chief, Julian paid severely for these principles, and for the people’s right to know”, Wikileaks posted.
Wikileaks also confirmed that Julian Assange would be returning to Australia.
