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 2x3 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.
As he returns to Australia, we thank all who stood by us, fought for us, and remained utterly committed in the fight for his freedom.
Julian's freedom is our freedom.
[More details to follow]
Julian Assange boards flight at London Stansted Airport at 5PM (BST) Monday June 24th. This is for everyone who worked for his freedom: thank you.
#FreedJulianAssange
"Throughout the years of Julian's imprisonment and persecution, an incredible movement has been formed. People from all walks of life from around the world who support not just Julian... but what Julian stands for: truth and justice." - @Stella_Assange
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Belmarsh prison authorities have refused permission for Julian Assange to participate via video link in meetings and press conferences taking place this week during the plenary of the European Parliament #SakharovPrize#FreeAssangeNOW
More than 40 MEPs nominated Julian Assange for this year's Prize; "Julian's nomination is testament to the support he has from human rights groups around the world as well as the recognition of his life’s work for peace and justice" @stella_assange#FreeAssangeNOW#SakharovPrize
We contacted Julian Assange in prison. He says that everyone in #Ukraine should install @BriarApp NOW before the internet goes down. @BriarApp is designed to let people safely communicate with each other in exactly this situation briarproject.org
Ми зв’язалися з Джуліаном Ассанжем у в’язниці. Він каже, що кожен в #Ukraine має встановити @BriarApp ЗАРАЗ, перш ніж зникне інтернет. @BriarApp розроблено, щоб дозволити людям безпечно спілкуватися один з одним саме в такій ситуації briarproject.org
WikiLeaks’ Kristinn Hrafnsson: "What the US is doing is truly unprecedented. A new indictment is being introduced halfway into the extradition proceedings, which have been a year in the making. The 'new' superseding indictment actually contains nothing new".
KH "All the alleged events have been know to the prosecution for years. It contains no new charges. What’s really happening here is that despite its decade long head start the prosecution are still unable to build a coherent and credible case".
Defence lawyer Edward Fitzgerald: This prosecution is not about criminal justice, it is due to underlying political motives of the US government.
Extraditing #Assange would also lead to "inhuman and degrading treatment," in the US prison system, his counsel tells the court, says mental condition could put him at risk of suicide.
Julian Assange’s detention “sets a dangerous precedent for journalists”, according to politicians from the Council of Europe’s parliamentary arm, who voted on Tuesday to oppose the WikiLeaks founder’s extradition to the US
Labour peer and UK Rapporteur on #mediafreedom Lord Foulkes, ...had drafted an initial report – Threats to Media Freedom and Journalists’ Security in Europe – that will now contain amendments referring to Assange tabled by a number of European parliamentarians.
One of the amendments backs the recommendation of the UN special rapporteur on torture who called last year for Assange’s release and for extradition to the United States to be blocked.
@SecPompeo JA: 'When the director of the CIA, an unelected public servant, publicly demonizes a publisher such as WikiLeaks as a “fraud,” “coward” and “enemy,” it puts all journalists on notice, or should'.
@SecPompeo JA: 'Pompeo’s next talking point, unsupported by fact, that WikiLeaks is a “non-state hostile intelligence service,” is a dagger aimed at Americans’ constitutional right to receive honest information about their government'.