In a surprising turn of events, Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks has been released from a UK prison after reaching a plea agreement with US authorities.
The news was broken on WikiLeaks’ official X (Twitter) account where it was tweeted:
“JULIAN ASSANGE IS FREE”
“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.”
“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]”
Stella Assange #FreeAssangeNOW also tweeted: “Words cannot express our immense gratitude to YOU- yes YOU, who have all mobilised for years and years to make this come true. THANK YOU. tHANK YOU. THANK YOU.”
This development marks a significant shift in the long-running legal saga surrounding the controversial figure.
According to sources close to the matter, Assange has agreed to plead guilty to lesser charges in exchange for his freedom. The exact details of the plea deal remain confidential, but it is understood that the agreement will result in Assange’s immediate release from Belmarsh Prison in London, where he has been held since 2019.
The U.S. Department of Justice has reportedly agreed to drop its most serious charges against Assange, including those under the Espionage Act, which could have resulted in a sentence of up to 175 years if he were convicted.
This unexpected resolution comes after years of legal battles, diplomatic tensions, and heated debates about press freedom and national security. It also follows intense diplomatic efforts by the Australian government, which has been pressuring US authorities for Assange’s release. The Australian-born Assange has been a subject of concern for his home country’s government, which has advocated for his rights and fair treatment.
The international reaction to this news has been mixed, with human rights organizations cautiously welcoming the development while some government officials express concern about the precedent it might set.
There have been intense diplomatic efforts by the Australian government, which has been pressuring US authorities for Assange’s release. The Australian-born Assange has been a subject of concern for his home country’s government, which has advocated for his rights and fair treatment.
Sources indicate that President Biden’s administration has played a crucial role in this development. The President had previously promised to look into quelling the espionage allegations against the WikiLeaks founder, a commitment that appears to have influenced the current outcome.
As of now, neither Assange’s legal team nor U.S. officials have made public statements about the reported plea deal. It remains unclear when Assange will be released or what conditions, if any, will be attached to his freedom.
This breaking story is still developing, and more details are expected to emerge in the coming hours and days.
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