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Julian Assange: UN panel decision is 'vindication' – live updates | |
(35 minutes later) | |
12.43pm GMT | |
12:43 | |
The first writeups of Assange’s statement are coming in. The first take of the Press Assoication picks up on his criticism of the British foreign secretary, Philip Hammond: | |
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange remained inside the Ecuadorian Embassy today, launching an attack against the Government for its “insulting” response to a UN working group report on his detention. | |
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond branded the working group’s findings on the “arbitrary detention” of Mr Assange as “frankly ridiculous” and said the Australian was “hiding from justice”. | |
He spoke out after the UN panel had ruled Mr Assange was being “arbitrarily detained” in the Ecuadorian embassy in London - and called for him to be paid compensation. | |
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said the Swedish and British authorities should end Mr Assange’s “deprivation of liberty” and respect his physical integrity and freedom of movement. | |
Mr Assange spoke via Skype to a press conference in London, saying the UN report had brought a smile to his face, and insisting his detention had now been formally ruled as unlawful. | |
He said comments by Mr Hammond were “beneath” the minister’s stature and insulting to the UN. | |
Meanwhile, the Associated Press highlighted Assange’s assessment of the UN panel’s decision: | |
Julian Assange says a U.N. panel’s finding that he has been arbitrarily detained is a “vindication.” | |
The WikiLeaks founder says it is “now a matter of settled law” that he has been wrongly detained. | |
Assange spoke to journalists by video from the London embassy of Ecuador, where he has been holed up for 3½ years to avoid extradition to Sweden for questioning about alleged sexual offenses. | |
Assange said Britain and Sweden cannot appeal the panel’s finding, but Britain has already indicated it will challenge. | |
12.37pm GMT | |
12:37 | |
Here’s audio of the full 10 minute response from Assange. | |
12.32pm GMT | |
12:32 | |
Here’s a video clip of Assange’s response. | |
12.32pm GMT | |
12:32 | |
Assange closed by saying: | |
I would like to say thank you, that I miss my family. That we have today a really significant victory that has brought a smile to my face and I hope many others as well. | |
Updated | |
at 12.34pm GMT | |
12.28pm GMT | |
12:28 | |
Assange thanked the UN for “producing this verdict”. He said it would help his case for freedom but was also an important ruling generally on arbitrary detention. | |
Assange thanks his lawyers. | |
12.27pm GMT | |
12:27 | |
Assange said that if the UK and Sweden continued to undermine the panel’s finding they would be hit diplomatically. “We have now a victory, and decided law on this case,” he said. | |
12.24pm GMT | |
12:24 | |
Assange insisted the panel’s findings were legally binding. The panel was a higher body than national law, he said. | |
Assange also described Philip Hammond’s comments as insulting and beneath a foreign secretary. He said Hammond’s claim that the finding was ridiculous was just for “domestic consumption”. | |
Assange claimed there was no appeal against the panel’s decision; it was a matter of “settled law”. Earlier the UN said Sweden and the UK had two months to contest the findings. But Assange said: “The time for appeal is over.” | |
Updated | |
at 12.33pm GMT | |
12.20pm GMT | |
12:20 | |
Assange appears via videolink: “Today that detention without charge has been found to be unlawful. I consider the outcome a vindication.” | |
Updated | |
at 12.30pm GMT | |
12.18pm GMT | |
12:18 | |
Taylor says the panel recommendation of compensation for Assange highlights that he has become a victim of his whistleblowing. | |
Updated | |
at 12.20pm GMT | |
12.16pm GMT | |
12:16 | |
Taylor says that the indefinite detention of Assange is a form of “mental torture”. | |
12.12pm GMT | 12.12pm GMT |
12:12 | 12:12 |
Melinda Taylor says the finding affirms that Assange has been a victim of a miscarriage of justice. “He has been detained for five years, one month and 29 days,” she says. | Melinda Taylor says the finding affirms that Assange has been a victim of a miscarriage of justice. “He has been detained for five years, one month and 29 days,” she says. |
“If you have no effective freedom, then you are detained ... yet Sweden and the UK refused to acknowledge that,” she added. | “If you have no effective freedom, then you are detained ... yet Sweden and the UK refused to acknowledge that,” she added. |
12.09pm GMT | 12.09pm GMT |
12:09 | 12:09 |
Lawyer Jennifer Robinson described the finding as “resounding victory for Mr Assange”. | Lawyer Jennifer Robinson described the finding as “resounding victory for Mr Assange”. |
12.01pm GMT | 12.01pm GMT |
12:01 | 12:01 |
The Frontline club press conference is about to get under way. Assange supporters are sitting in front of a big screen where the Wikileaks founder is expected to appear via Skype. | |
John Jones QC, Melinda Taylor, Jennifer Robinson and Baltasar Garzon will give presentations before Assange is due to appear. | John Jones QC, Melinda Taylor, Jennifer Robinson and Baltasar Garzon will give presentations before Assange is due to appear. |
Updated | Updated |
at 12.20pm GMT | |
11.54am GMT | 11.54am GMT |
11:54 | 11:54 |
Downing Street has echoed Hammond’s line on the panel’s finding. | Downing Street has echoed Hammond’s line on the panel’s finding. |
David Cameron’s spokesman said: | David Cameron’s spokesman said: |
“It’s ridiculous. There’s a European arrest warrant out for him. He has never been arbitrarily detained in this country. | “It’s ridiculous. There’s a European arrest warrant out for him. He has never been arbitrarily detained in this country. |
“It’s entirely his choice to remain in the Ecuadorian embassy and he is avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain there.” | “It’s entirely his choice to remain in the Ecuadorian embassy and he is avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain there.” |
11.51am GMT | 11.51am GMT |
11:51 | 11:51 |
The Guardian’s Esther Addley is in prime position for the Assange press conference at the Frontline club. | The Guardian’s Esther Addley is in prime position for the Assange press conference at the Frontline club. |
Hosting press conference with Julian Assange in response to UN legal panel ruling - live at https://t.co/CNtUg7cdTw pic.twitter.com/Bu31qm3t7x | Hosting press conference with Julian Assange in response to UN legal panel ruling - live at https://t.co/CNtUg7cdTw pic.twitter.com/Bu31qm3t7x |
#Assange expected to appear by video link at 12pm press conference. This is the scene with an hour to go.. pic.twitter.com/BeuANslal5 | #Assange expected to appear by video link at 12pm press conference. This is the scene with an hour to go.. pic.twitter.com/BeuANslal5 |
Updated | Updated |
at 11.52am GMT | at 11.52am GMT |
11.47am GMT | 11.47am GMT |
11:47 | 11:47 |
Here’s footage of the foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, describing the finding as “flawed in law” and “frankly ridiculous”. | |
Updated | |
at 12.21pm GMT | |
11.44am GMT | 11.44am GMT |
11:44 | 11:44 |
Ecuador’s foreign minister, Ricardo Patiño, says his government will give its response at 7am local time (midday UK time). | |
Ofreceré la reacción del Ecuador ante la Disposición del Grupo de Trabajo de la ONU en el caso #Assange. @teleSURtv 7h00; @CNNEE 7h30 | Ofreceré la reacción del Ecuador ante la Disposición del Grupo de Trabajo de la ONU en el caso #Assange. @teleSURtv 7h00; @CNNEE 7h30 |
Updated | |
at 12.22pm GMT | |
11.38am GMT | 11.38am GMT |
11:38 | 11:38 |
The respected international lawyer, Philippe Sands, doesn’t think much of the panel’s finding. | The respected international lawyer, Philippe Sands, doesn’t think much of the panel’s finding. |
Have read the full WGAD #Assange report - poorly reasoned and unpersuasive. Not the UN’s finest day https://t.co/Wmq2YGHiBi | Have read the full WGAD #Assange report - poorly reasoned and unpersuasive. Not the UN’s finest day https://t.co/Wmq2YGHiBi |
Neither does the legal commentator Joshua Rozenberg. | Neither does the legal commentator Joshua Rozenberg. |
Excellent @guardian leader today on Assange. Reminds us he has broken bail conditions. https://t.co/PZLPPpV2ea And, no, I didn’t write it. | Excellent @guardian leader today on Assange. Reminds us he has broken bail conditions. https://t.co/PZLPPpV2ea And, no, I didn’t write it. |
11.35am GMT | 11.35am GMT |
11:35 | 11:35 |
The Daily Mash pokes fun at the panel’s finding. | The Daily Mash pokes fun at the panel’s finding. |
A Man who has been waiting for his Argos purchase for more than 15 minutes is being detained in violation of his human rights, the UN has ruled. | A Man who has been waiting for his Argos purchase for more than 15 minutes is being detained in violation of his human rights, the UN has ruled. |
Tom Logan was given his ticket for a Nespresso coffee machine at 9.46am, but is still confined within the store at 10.02am with no end to his ordeal in sight. | Tom Logan was given his ticket for a Nespresso coffee machine at 9.46am, but is still confined within the store at 10.02am with no end to his ordeal in sight. |
Variations on the same gag abound. | Variations on the same gag abound. |
UN demands compo too for Assange. I demand beer and curry from the Govt every time I'm forced to stay in and watch Sky Sports | UN demands compo too for Assange. I demand beer and curry from the Govt every time I'm forced to stay in and watch Sky Sports |
Remember when Ronnie Biggs was arbitrarily detained in Brazil for over 30 years? #assange @DavidAllenGreen | Remember when Ronnie Biggs was arbitrarily detained in Brazil for over 30 years? #assange @DavidAllenGreen |
11.28am GMT | 11.28am GMT |
11:28 | 11:28 |
Jessica Elgot | Jessica Elgot |
Jessica Elgot reports live from the press scrum at the Ecuadorian embassy: | |
The back streets of luxury apartments behind Harrods department store which look on to the front of the Ecuadorian embassy are once more crammed with the international press, two or three deep back from the kerb. | |
Reporters are here from the US, Sweden, Australia, Germany and Russia, among others, hoping that Julian Assange may stride out for an impromptu speech from the famous balcony, though there is no indication he will. | |
A police van moved to the front of the balcony in the last few hours, though police have not regularly been stationed here since the Met downgraded their presence at the embassy last year, with the operation having cost the taxpayer more than £12m. | |
Among the crowds of photographers, around a dozen Assange supporters have been here throughout the morning. | |
Jim Curran, a former railway engineer and WikiLeaks supporter, who has visited the embassy almost every day since Assange entered, said at one point the vigil had numbered 150, but people slowly drifted away. | Jim Curran, a former railway engineer and WikiLeaks supporter, who has visited the embassy almost every day since Assange entered, said at one point the vigil had numbered 150, but people slowly drifted away. |
Curran said he did not expect to see Assange appear today. “Many people wanted to be here, but they have jobs, students are at university, it’s not really surprising,” he said. | Curran said he did not expect to see Assange appear today. “Many people wanted to be here, but they have jobs, students are at university, it’s not really surprising,” he said. |
Updated | |
at 12.26pm GMT | |
11.16am GMT | 11.16am GMT |
11:16 | 11:16 |
Assange’s barrister Geoffrey Robertson has urged the UK and Swedish authorities to abide by the panel’s finding. | Assange’s barrister Geoffrey Robertson has urged the UK and Swedish authorities to abide by the panel’s finding. |
Speaking to BBC News he said: | Speaking to BBC News he said: |
“Sweden has acted contrary to international law. Sweden is bound morally by this judgment so obviously in order to enforce it, Britain should get together with Sweden and find a way out. And perhaps compensate the Ecuadorians for putting up Julian Assange. That is the result of Britain’s commitment to international law.” | “Sweden has acted contrary to international law. Sweden is bound morally by this judgment so obviously in order to enforce it, Britain should get together with Sweden and find a way out. And perhaps compensate the Ecuadorians for putting up Julian Assange. That is the result of Britain’s commitment to international law.” |
11.08am GMT | 11.08am GMT |
11:08 | 11:08 |
Philip Hammond also dismissed the panel’s finding as “flawed in law”. Here’s audio of his statement: | Philip Hammond also dismissed the panel’s finding as “flawed in law”. Here’s audio of his statement: |
10.59am GMT | 10.59am GMT |
10:59 | 10:59 |
Jessica Elgot | Jessica Elgot |
The Guardian’s Jessica Elgot has joined the media scrum outside the Ecuadorian embassy. | The Guardian’s Jessica Elgot has joined the media scrum outside the Ecuadorian embassy. |
Hundreds of press here outside Ecuadorian embassy from across the world, hoping for a peek of Assange pic.twitter.com/M5KSaJNLWQ | Hundreds of press here outside Ecuadorian embassy from across the world, hoping for a peek of Assange pic.twitter.com/M5KSaJNLWQ |
The police van has moved to just in front of the embassy balcony. Coppers were stationed round the corner yesterday pic.twitter.com/qZ7YWnUlOy | The police van has moved to just in front of the embassy balcony. Coppers were stationed round the corner yesterday pic.twitter.com/qZ7YWnUlOy |
This is Jim Curran, who has visited the Embassy to support Assange almost every day. pic.twitter.com/E0vjeUop2T | This is Jim Curran, who has visited the Embassy to support Assange almost every day. pic.twitter.com/E0vjeUop2T |
10.56am GMT | 10.56am GMT |
10:56 | 10:56 |
A Guardian editorial on the panel’s finding agrees with the Hammond’s assessment. | A Guardian editorial on the panel’s finding agrees with the Hammond’s assessment. |
It says the panel’s opinion is “simply wrong”: | It says the panel’s opinion is “simply wrong”: |
“[Assange] is not being detained arbitrarily. Three-and-a-half years ago, he sought refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in order to avoid extradition to Sweden to face allegations of sex offences. He had fought extradition through every court, and at each his case was rejected. “Arbitrary” detention means that due legal process has not been observed. It has. This is a publicity stunt. | “[Assange] is not being detained arbitrarily. Three-and-a-half years ago, he sought refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in order to avoid extradition to Sweden to face allegations of sex offences. He had fought extradition through every court, and at each his case was rejected. “Arbitrary” detention means that due legal process has not been observed. It has. This is a publicity stunt. |
It is possible to sympathise with his circumstances, and to applaud his role in the WikiLeaks revelations that exposed embarassing and sometimes illegal US activity that were published in the Guardian (while deploring his later decision to dump many more, unmediated, on the web) without accepting his right to evade prosecutors’ questions about the allegation that he committed a serious criminal offence. | It is possible to sympathise with his circumstances, and to applaud his role in the WikiLeaks revelations that exposed embarassing and sometimes illegal US activity that were published in the Guardian (while deploring his later decision to dump many more, unmediated, on the web) without accepting his right to evade prosecutors’ questions about the allegation that he committed a serious criminal offence. |
He has always argued that it is not the sex offence inquiries that he is avoiding, but extradition from Sweden to the US. Chelsea Manning, the soldier who originally downloaded the material and leaked it to Mr Assange, is serving a long sentence in military detention. There are indications that WikiLeaks is in the US justice department’s sights: it’s been confirmed that a grand jury is investigating; no indictment has been made public, but that does not mean there is none. Equally, the justice department could decide to make a distinction between government employees and military personnel who had a duty to protect classified information, and those who, like Mr Assange, published it. But WikiLeaks was founded on exposing those who ignored the rule of law. Surely its editor-in-chief should recognise his duty to see it upheld. | He has always argued that it is not the sex offence inquiries that he is avoiding, but extradition from Sweden to the US. Chelsea Manning, the soldier who originally downloaded the material and leaked it to Mr Assange, is serving a long sentence in military detention. There are indications that WikiLeaks is in the US justice department’s sights: it’s been confirmed that a grand jury is investigating; no indictment has been made public, but that does not mean there is none. Equally, the justice department could decide to make a distinction between government employees and military personnel who had a duty to protect classified information, and those who, like Mr Assange, published it. But WikiLeaks was founded on exposing those who ignored the rule of law. Surely its editor-in-chief should recognise his duty to see it upheld. |