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| Julian Assange hails 'sweet victory' of UN report – as it happened | Julian Assange hails 'sweet victory' of UN report – as it happened |
| (12 days later) | |
| 5.22pm GMT | 5.22pm GMT |
| 17:22 | 17:22 |
| We are now closing this blog after Julian Assange’s impromptu victory celebration on the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy, his home for the past five and a half years. Thank you for reading. | We are now closing this blog after Julian Assange’s impromptu victory celebration on the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy, his home for the past five and a half years. Thank you for reading. |
| 4.55pm GMT | 4.55pm GMT |
| 16:55 | 16:55 |
| Jessica Elgot | Jessica Elgot |
| The indefatigable Jessica Elgot has just filed from the embassy on Assange’s impromptu victory celebration. | The indefatigable Jessica Elgot has just filed from the embassy on Assange’s impromptu victory celebration. |
| After a warm up of songs from supporters and their guitar, Assange got on the balcony to hail his "sweet" victory pic.twitter.com/MM1avHsulU | After a warm up of songs from supporters and their guitar, Assange got on the balcony to hail his "sweet" victory pic.twitter.com/MM1avHsulU |
| Julian Assange has declared he is “tough” enough to withstand longer confinement in the Ecuadorian Embassy, but demanded the UK and Sweden heed the UN’s opinion that he is arbitrarily detained in an impassioned speech to supporters and media crowded around the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy in Knightbridge. | Julian Assange has declared he is “tough” enough to withstand longer confinement in the Ecuadorian Embassy, but demanded the UK and Sweden heed the UN’s opinion that he is arbitrarily detained in an impassioned speech to supporters and media crowded around the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy in Knightbridge. |
| In the 12-minute speech, Assange said his legal team would now examine if there were “criminal consequences” for the parties who he said continue to deny him his freedom, citing the UN Convention Against Torture. | In the 12-minute speech, Assange said his legal team would now examine if there were “criminal consequences” for the parties who he said continue to deny him his freedom, citing the UN Convention Against Torture. |
| Activists and supporters played peace songs as a warm up act for the WikiLeaks founder, as the rumour spread that he would be appearing on the embassy balcony. | Activists and supporters played peace songs as a warm up act for the WikiLeaks founder, as the rumour spread that he would be appearing on the embassy balcony. |
| He appeared a minute past 4pm, in the grey suit and yellow tie he wore at an earlier press conference. “How sweet it is,” he said. “This is a victory that cannot be denied.” | He appeared a minute past 4pm, in the grey suit and yellow tie he wore at an earlier press conference. “How sweet it is,” he said. “This is a victory that cannot be denied.” |
| In the fading afternoon light, he thanked the jurists and the legal team that decided in his favour, before pausing for several moments to collect this thoughts, staring into the crowd. | In the fading afternoon light, he thanked the jurists and the legal team that decided in his favour, before pausing for several moments to collect this thoughts, staring into the crowd. |
| “The UN had made a statement that is legally binding,” he said, to shouts of ‘yes!’ from the supporters who had linked arms and formed a protective barrier in front of the balcony between Assange and the media. “There have been comments made by Hammond, foreign minister of this country, that this changes nothing,” Assange continued. “Hammond may be a perfectly nice person but his comments are merely rhetoric. | “The UN had made a statement that is legally binding,” he said, to shouts of ‘yes!’ from the supporters who had linked arms and formed a protective barrier in front of the balcony between Assange and the media. “There have been comments made by Hammond, foreign minister of this country, that this changes nothing,” Assange continued. “Hammond may be a perfectly nice person but his comments are merely rhetoric. |
| “He doesn’t state that the UK will refuse to accept the authority of the Working Group of arbitrary detention. The UK and Sweden were party to a 16-month process, we made submissions, the UK responded to those submissions. They lost!” | “He doesn’t state that the UK will refuse to accept the authority of the Working Group of arbitrary detention. The UK and Sweden were party to a 16-month process, we made submissions, the UK responded to those submissions. They lost!” |
| Assange described himself as having been arbitrarily detained for five and a half years, a comment which provoked the ire of a passer-by, who yelled repeatedly will you be here for another five and a half years?” The heckler persisted for a minute or two before Assange said: “can someone close that person up?” to cheers from his supporters. “This is a free country mate,” the man shouted back. | Assange described himself as having been arbitrarily detained for five and a half years, a comment which provoked the ire of a passer-by, who yelled repeatedly will you be here for another five and a half years?” The heckler persisted for a minute or two before Assange said: “can someone close that person up?” to cheers from his supporters. “This is a free country mate,” the man shouted back. |
| Assange ended his speech with an appeal to authorities to consider the impact the last five years had had on his family. “I am tough, I can take it. But what right does the government have to deny my children their father for five and a half years? My children are completely innocent. They are not in the business of holding governments to account, they are in the business of being children. They need their father back.” | Assange ended his speech with an appeal to authorities to consider the impact the last five years had had on his family. “I am tough, I can take it. But what right does the government have to deny my children their father for five and a half years? My children are completely innocent. They are not in the business of holding governments to account, they are in the business of being children. They need their father back.” |
| “There are good people in the UK government, in the Foreign Office, in the British police, the Swedish foreign ministry, the US state department and even the US military, and it is partly due to these good people and their ongoing support that has led to this victory. These people understand that history is on their side and I am very grateful.” | “There are good people in the UK government, in the Foreign Office, in the British police, the Swedish foreign ministry, the US state department and even the US military, and it is partly due to these good people and their ongoing support that has led to this victory. These people understand that history is on their side and I am very grateful.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.10pm GMT | at 5.10pm GMT |
| 4.43pm GMT | 4.43pm GMT |
| 16:43 | 16:43 |
| Assange: 'How sweet it is. A victory that cannot be denied' | Assange: 'How sweet it is. A victory that cannot be denied' |
| Assange’s appearance lasted about 10 minutes. When he first appeared, his supporters shouted: “We love you.” and “Julian your friends are you.” He held up a copy of the UN as he spoke as if it was a badge of vindication. His first words were: “How sweet it is. This is a victory that cannot be denied. It is a victory of historical importance for me, my family, my children and for the independence of the UN system.” | Assange’s appearance lasted about 10 minutes. When he first appeared, his supporters shouted: “We love you.” and “Julian your friends are you.” He held up a copy of the UN as he spoke as if it was a badge of vindication. His first words were: “How sweet it is. This is a victory that cannot be denied. It is a victory of historical importance for me, my family, my children and for the independence of the UN system.” |
| The UN document was not just a visual prop. He read its conclusion declaring that deprivation of his liberty was arbitrary, which was greeted by cheers. And then he asked what right the British, Swedish and US governments had to deny his children of their father. | The UN document was not just a visual prop. He read its conclusion declaring that deprivation of his liberty was arbitrary, which was greeted by cheers. And then he asked what right the British, Swedish and US governments had to deny his children of their father. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.45pm GMT | at 4.45pm GMT |
| 4.21pm GMT | 4.21pm GMT |
| 16:21 | 16:21 |
| Mark Tran | Mark Tran |
| Assange has appeared on the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy clutching a copy of the UN report - there had been rumours that he would. He repeats much of what he said before in the videolink, but then goes into quite an emotional tirade about how his children have been deprived of their father for five and a half years. | Assange has appeared on the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy clutching a copy of the UN report - there had been rumours that he would. He repeats much of what he said before in the videolink, but then goes into quite an emotional tirade about how his children have been deprived of their father for five and a half years. |
| “My children are completely innocent parties, they are not in politics, they are not into holding governments to account. It’s time they had their father back. That will happen,” he says to cheers from the crowd below and to the odd heckler. At one point he says: “can anyone close that person down”. | “My children are completely innocent parties, they are not in politics, they are not into holding governments to account. It’s time they had their father back. That will happen,” he says to cheers from the crowd below and to the odd heckler. At one point he says: “can anyone close that person down”. |
| He went on to say that there would consequences for the governments that have put him in his predicament. | He went on to say that there would consequences for the governments that have put him in his predicament. |
| “There will be criminal consequences for those parties involved,” he said. | “There will be criminal consequences for those parties involved,” he said. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.58pm GMT | at 4.58pm GMT |
| 3.23pm GMT | 3.23pm GMT |
| 15:23 | 15:23 |
| Here’s a summary of where things stand: | Here’s a summary of where things stand: |
| There’ll be more on the Julian Assange section of the Guardian’s site. | There’ll be more on the Julian Assange section of the Guardian’s site. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.15pm GMT | at 4.15pm GMT |
| 3.12pm GMT | 3.12pm GMT |
| 15:12 | 15:12 |
| The online book maker Paddy Power is offering odds of 14-1 for Julian Assange to walk away from the Ecuadorean Embassy a free man this month. | The online book maker Paddy Power is offering odds of 14-1 for Julian Assange to walk away from the Ecuadorean Embassy a free man this month. |
| Paddy Power is also taking bets on how Assange will make his exit from the Embassy. “A tenner on a Taxi at 13-2 would return more than enough to cover his fare!,” it says. | Paddy Power is also taking bets on how Assange will make his exit from the Embassy. “A tenner on a Taxi at 13-2 would return more than enough to cover his fare!,” it says. |
| When will Assange get out? | When will Assange get out? |
| 3.04pm GMT | 3.04pm GMT |
| 15:04 | 15:04 |
| The Guardian’s former investigations editor David Leigh, who worked with Assange on publication of leaded US embassy cables before falling out with the Wikileaks founder, urges us to remember the whistleblower Chelsea Manning. | The Guardian’s former investigations editor David Leigh, who worked with Assange on publication of leaded US embassy cables before falling out with the Wikileaks founder, urges us to remember the whistleblower Chelsea Manning. |
| Leigh says it is Manning, who was sentenced to 35 years for leaking the cables, who is the real political prisoner. | Leigh says it is Manning, who was sentenced to 35 years for leaking the cables, who is the real political prisoner. |
| Assange circus: let's not forget the REAL political prisoner https://t.co/Fk7iEMZlU9 | Assange circus: let's not forget the REAL political prisoner https://t.co/Fk7iEMZlU9 |
| 2.52pm GMT | 2.52pm GMT |
| 14:52 | 14:52 |
| Ecuador: Assange must be allowed to go free | Ecuador: Assange must be allowed to go free |
| Ecuador has welcomed the UN panel’s finding. Foreign minister, Ricardo Patiño, said Assange must be allowed to go free. | Ecuador has welcomed the UN panel’s finding. Foreign minister, Ricardo Patiño, said Assange must be allowed to go free. |
| “It is time for both governments (Britain and Sweden) to correct their mistake, time for them to allow Julian Assange his freedom, time for them to end this arbitrary detention and furthermore compensate the damage done to this man,” Patiño told a press conference acoording to AFP. | “It is time for both governments (Britain and Sweden) to correct their mistake, time for them to allow Julian Assange his freedom, time for them to end this arbitrary detention and furthermore compensate the damage done to this man,” Patiño told a press conference acoording to AFP. |
| He added: “We’ve said it from the beginning, but now we’re not the only ones. This is obvious political persecution. That has been absolutely demonstrated.” | He added: “We’ve said it from the beginning, but now we’re not the only ones. This is obvious political persecution. That has been absolutely demonstrated.” |
| “What more do they want to be accused of before they start to rectify their error?” he told South American broadcaster Telesur, in reference to Britain and Sweden. Patino said Ecuador was analysing its next steps. | “What more do they want to be accused of before they start to rectify their error?” he told South American broadcaster Telesur, in reference to Britain and Sweden. Patino said Ecuador was analysing its next steps. |
| On Thursday Ecuador said it deserved compensation for housing Assange in its London embassy. | On Thursday Ecuador said it deserved compensation for housing Assange in its London embassy. |
| “That shows we were right, after so many years,” Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa told a news conference in Quito in reference to the panel’s anticipated finding. | “That shows we were right, after so many years,” Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa told a news conference in Quito in reference to the panel’s anticipated finding. |
| “But who is going to compensate the harm that has been done to Julian Assange and to Ecuador? Do you know how much it costs to maintain security at the embassy?” he asked. | “But who is going to compensate the harm that has been done to Julian Assange and to Ecuador? Do you know how much it costs to maintain security at the embassy?” he asked. |
| “We experienced spying attempts and lots of other things.” | “We experienced spying attempts and lots of other things.” |
| The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention recommended that Assange be entitled to compensation, but it said nothing about Ecuador’s costs of housing him. | The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention recommended that Assange be entitled to compensation, but it said nothing about Ecuador’s costs of housing him. |
| Patino said Assange was welcome to remain in the embassy. | Patino said Assange was welcome to remain in the embassy. |
| “The basis on which we granted him asylum remains in place,” Patino told reporters. | “The basis on which we granted him asylum remains in place,” Patino told reporters. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.29pm GMT | at 4.29pm GMT |
| 2.33pm GMT | 2.33pm GMT |
| 14:33 | 14:33 |
| The word from the Ecuadorian embassy is that Assange may soon make an appearance on the balcony. | The word from the Ecuadorian embassy is that Assange may soon make an appearance on the balcony. |
| Reuters has a live feed from outside the building. | Reuters has a live feed from outside the building. |
| 2.26pm GMT | 2.26pm GMT |
| 14:26 | 14:26 |
| Roland Adjovi Sètondji from Benin, one of the three members of the UN panel who backed the finding has defended the opinion. | Roland Adjovi Sètondji from Benin, one of the three members of the UN panel who backed the finding has defended the opinion. |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme he said: “We saw this time he has been in the embassy as a continuation of two obvious detention situations. He [Assange] was detained first in a British prison for 10 days , before being released on house arrest for almost two years.” | Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme he said: “We saw this time he has been in the embassy as a continuation of two obvious detention situations. He [Assange] was detained first in a British prison for 10 days , before being released on house arrest for almost two years.” |
| Sètondji added: “In any criminal justice there is an obligation of timely process. This investigation has been going on for five years and there is no charges, there is no indictment of Julian Assange until now. The working group was of the view that this was a lengthy process that jeopardised his right to a fair trial.” | Sètondji added: “In any criminal justice there is an obligation of timely process. This investigation has been going on for five years and there is no charges, there is no indictment of Julian Assange until now. The working group was of the view that this was a lengthy process that jeopardised his right to a fair trial.” |
| Asked to respond to the foreign secretary’s claim that finding was “ridiculous”, Sètondji said “obviously I can’t share that view, but I don’t have to comment on state authority’s views.” | Asked to respond to the foreign secretary’s claim that finding was “ridiculous”, Sètondji said “obviously I can’t share that view, but I don’t have to comment on state authority’s views.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.26pm GMT | at 2.26pm GMT |
| 2.12pm GMT | 2.12pm GMT |
| 14:12 | 14:12 |
| How did the UN get it so wrong on Julian Assange? asks Joshua Rozenberg. | How did the UN get it so wrong on Julian Assange? asks Joshua Rozenberg. |
| First, they said he had been detained in prison for 10 days in 2010 “at the very beginning of the episode that lasted longer than five years”. They claimed “the arbitrariness is inherent in this form of deprivation of liberty”. This is palpably absurd. Assange was detained pending possible extradition. If his detention had been arbitrary he could not have challenged it, and been released on bail. But that not was what happened. The three-and-a-half years he has spent as a fugitive from justice cannot affect the lawfulness of his original imprisonment. | First, they said he had been detained in prison for 10 days in 2010 “at the very beginning of the episode that lasted longer than five years”. They claimed “the arbitrariness is inherent in this form of deprivation of liberty”. This is palpably absurd. Assange was detained pending possible extradition. If his detention had been arbitrary he could not have challenged it, and been released on bail. But that not was what happened. The three-and-a-half years he has spent as a fugitive from justice cannot affect the lawfulness of his original imprisonment. |
| According to the working group, his 10 days in prison was followed by 550 days of house arrest. He suffered “harsh restrictions”, including tagging and restrictions on staying out overnight. Harsh restrictions? | According to the working group, his 10 days in prison was followed by 550 days of house arrest. He suffered “harsh restrictions”, including tagging and restrictions on staying out overnight. Harsh restrictions? |
| And then we get to the fatal flaw. The working group considers that Assange’s stay at the embassy “should be considered as a prolongation of the already continued deprivation of liberty”. Its members provides no justification for this leap of logic. | And then we get to the fatal flaw. The working group considers that Assange’s stay at the embassy “should be considered as a prolongation of the already continued deprivation of liberty”. Its members provides no justification for this leap of logic. |
| Assange’s argument is that he was granted “diplomatic” immunity by Ecuador. But the UK does not recognise the notion that a state can merely designate as a diplomat anyone, of whatever nationality, and they are then exempt from the general law. | Assange’s argument is that he was granted “diplomatic” immunity by Ecuador. But the UK does not recognise the notion that a state can merely designate as a diplomat anyone, of whatever nationality, and they are then exempt from the general law. |
| Fortunately, the working group does not seem to have been taken in by this notion. Instead, the majority base their opinion on the length of time that has passed, as if to say that a fugitive is entitled to avoid justice by merely hiding away for a few years. | Fortunately, the working group does not seem to have been taken in by this notion. Instead, the majority base their opinion on the length of time that has passed, as if to say that a fugitive is entitled to avoid justice by merely hiding away for a few years. |
| If Assange is extradited to Sweden and charged with rape, there is no reason why he should not receive a fair trial. Any disadvantage he may suffer through the delay is entirely down to him. He has not been subjected to arbitrary detention. The idea that he should receive compensation for hiding himself away in Knightsbridge – as the working group says – simply heaps offensiveness on absurdity. | If Assange is extradited to Sweden and charged with rape, there is no reason why he should not receive a fair trial. Any disadvantage he may suffer through the delay is entirely down to him. He has not been subjected to arbitrary detention. The idea that he should receive compensation for hiding himself away in Knightsbridge – as the working group says – simply heaps offensiveness on absurdity. |
| Related: How did the UN get it so wrong on Julian Assange?| Joshua Rozenberg | Related: How did the UN get it so wrong on Julian Assange?| Joshua Rozenberg |
| 2.06pm GMT | 2.06pm GMT |
| 14:06 | 14:06 |
| Dominic Grieve, the former attorney general who was in post when Assange first entered the Ecuadorian embassy, dismissed the UN’s panel’s ruling as “very far-fetched”. | Dominic Grieve, the former attorney general who was in post when Assange first entered the Ecuadorian embassy, dismissed the UN’s panel’s ruling as “very far-fetched”. |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme he said: “I find the opinion a very extraordinary document.” | Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme he said: “I find the opinion a very extraordinary document.” |
| He said the main criticisms were aimed at the Swedish rather than British authorities, but added: | He said the main criticisms were aimed at the Swedish rather than British authorities, but added: |
| “What it effectively says in relation to the United Kingdom is that we ought no longer to be extraditing Mr Assange to Sweden because in 2014 we changed our own laws under the anti-social behaviour, crime and policing act to change some of rules on which extradition should take place, and you’ll appreciate that Mr Assange was extradited under the earlier regime but of course it doesn’t apply retrospectively. | “What it effectively says in relation to the United Kingdom is that we ought no longer to be extraditing Mr Assange to Sweden because in 2014 we changed our own laws under the anti-social behaviour, crime and policing act to change some of rules on which extradition should take place, and you’ll appreciate that Mr Assange was extradited under the earlier regime but of course it doesn’t apply retrospectively. |
| Then there is a quite an astonishing argument that the whole process has been arbitrary. They suggest he was held under house arrest for 550 days when in fact he was subject to bail conditions and I seem to recollect living in a rather large house in Suffolk where he was obliged to report to the police on a daily basis. The reason why the whole thing lasted 550 days is because he spent those 550 days challenging his extradition to Sweden and taking the matter all the way to the Supreme Court. | Then there is a quite an astonishing argument that the whole process has been arbitrary. They suggest he was held under house arrest for 550 days when in fact he was subject to bail conditions and I seem to recollect living in a rather large house in Suffolk where he was obliged to report to the police on a daily basis. The reason why the whole thing lasted 550 days is because he spent those 550 days challenging his extradition to Sweden and taking the matter all the way to the Supreme Court. |
| “He voluntarily took the decision to go to the Ecuadorian embassy and indeed he could leave the Ecuadorian embassy at any time of his choosing. And when he left it he would have the full protection of our English legal system which would enable him to challenge the decision. | “He voluntarily took the decision to go to the Ecuadorian embassy and indeed he could leave the Ecuadorian embassy at any time of his choosing. And when he left it he would have the full protection of our English legal system which would enable him to challenge the decision. |
| “It is not that I’m saying there may not be some points to be looked at, but the suggestion that he has been the subject of arbitrariness seemed to be very far fetched.” | “It is not that I’m saying there may not be some points to be looked at, but the suggestion that he has been the subject of arbitrariness seemed to be very far fetched.” |
| 1.39pm GMT | 1.39pm GMT |
| 13:39 | 13:39 |
| Jessica Elgot | Jessica Elgot |
| Peter Tatchell, the prominent human rights activist, has joined theswelling numbers of Assange supporters outside the Ecuadorian embassy, writes Jessica Elgot. | Peter Tatchell, the prominent human rights activist, has joined theswelling numbers of Assange supporters outside the Ecuadorian embassy, writes Jessica Elgot. |
| He was highly critical of the Swedish prosecutor Marianne Ny and the delay in questioning Assange at the embassy. Swedish and Ecuadorian legal teams only last month reached agreement which would allow the interview to take place. | He was highly critical of the Swedish prosecutor Marianne Ny and the delay in questioning Assange at the embassy. Swedish and Ecuadorian legal teams only last month reached agreement which would allow the interview to take place. |
| Tatchell said: “The Swedish prosecutor kept imposed many unreasonable conditions. It is a key principle of justice that it should not be delayed. If the Swedish prosecutor decides to interview him here and finds there is credible evidence to charge him, then he should of course face justice, but if there isn’t ...” | Tatchell said: “The Swedish prosecutor kept imposed many unreasonable conditions. It is a key principle of justice that it should not be delayed. If the Swedish prosecutor decides to interview him here and finds there is credible evidence to charge him, then he should of course face justice, but if there isn’t ...” |
| Tatchell, who has visited Assange on several occasions, called the WikiLeaks founder “a realist” about his prospects of leaving the embassy a free man. “But he is hopeful that justice will eventually prevail. David Cameron is consistently condemning, rightly, countries who do not respect the UN. Now his government is doing exactly thesame.” | Tatchell, who has visited Assange on several occasions, called the WikiLeaks founder “a realist” about his prospects of leaving the embassy a free man. “But he is hopeful that justice will eventually prevail. David Cameron is consistently condemning, rightly, countries who do not respect the UN. Now his government is doing exactly thesame.” |
| Tatchell is a long-standing supporter of Assange, here today with a growing number of activists pic.twitter.com/kWcP5vpeGE | Tatchell is a long-standing supporter of Assange, here today with a growing number of activists pic.twitter.com/kWcP5vpeGE |