WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was released from Belmarsh prison in the UK yesterday and is reportedly on his way to Australia, according to WikiLeaks. This follows news of a plea deal reached with US prosecutors, where Assange is expected to plead guilty to an espionage charge.
Details of the agreement are yet to be officially confirmed, but WikiLeaks claims Assange secured bail and departed the UK on Wednesday. The organization also stated Assange spent over 1900 days in prison.
Assange’s legal battle began in 2010 when he was arrested on a European warrant related to a sexual assault investigation in Sweden. He later sought asylum in Ecuador’s London embassy, fearing extradition to the US. After seven years, Ecuador revoked his asylum, leading to his arrest by British authorities on bail violation charges.
The US indictment stemmed from WikiLeaks’ publication of classified documents exposing alleged US war crimes and human rights abuses. Assange has long been a controversial figure, hailed as a champion of press freedom by some and accused of endangering national security by others.
With his release and the expected guilty plea, a years-long legal saga surrounding Assange appears to be nearing its conclusion.
Image—CBS News
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