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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| The Latest: Assange lawyer says he suffered mental torture | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| GENEVA — The Latest on the U.N. panel’s determination that Julian Assange has been arbitrarily detained (all times local): | GENEVA — The Latest on the U.N. panel’s determination that Julian Assange has been arbitrarily detained (all times local): |
| 1:20 p.m. | |
| A lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says a U.N. panel finding shows that he has been subjected to “mental torture.” | |
| Melinda Taylor said part of his arbitrary detention has included round-the-clock covert and overt surveillance while seeking refuge at the Embassy of Ecuador in London. | |
| She said Friday his rights have been repeatedly violated and that Sweden and Britain have to “step up to the plate” and set him free.” | |
| 1:10 p.m. | |
| A lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says the finding of a U.N. panel represents a “resounding victory” for Assange. | |
| Jennifer Robinson praised the panel’s finding that Assange has been a victim of arbitrary detention and should be freed. | |
| Assange has sought refuge in the Embassy of Ecuador in London since 2012 to avoid questioning in Sweden on allegations of sexual misconduct. | |
| Robinson said Assange has exercised his legal rights in a lawful manner. | |
| She called the decision “incredibly important.” | |
| ___ | |
| 11:55 a.m. | 11:55 a.m. |
| One of Julian Assange’s lawyers in Sweden says the country “has no other option but to submit itself to” the opinion of a U.N. human rights panel. | One of Julian Assange’s lawyers in Sweden says the country “has no other option but to submit itself to” the opinion of a U.N. human rights panel. |
| Thomas Olsson says Sweden — where Assange is wanted for questioning over allegations of rape in 2010 — has “committed itself to the rules and decisions that exist in the U.N. human rights charter.” | Thomas Olsson says Sweden — where Assange is wanted for questioning over allegations of rape in 2010 — has “committed itself to the rules and decisions that exist in the U.N. human rights charter.” |
| Olsson welcomed the ruling that Assange has been arbitrarily detained, which he called “a pretty positive message,” adding it was “totally in line with the argumentation we have presented.” | Olsson welcomed the ruling that Assange has been arbitrarily detained, which he called “a pretty positive message,” adding it was “totally in line with the argumentation we have presented.” |
| He said time should be given to the Swedish prosecutor in charge of the case, who was traveling on Friday, “to analyze this ruling . and then take a decision | He said time should be given to the Swedish prosecutor in charge of the case, who was traveling on Friday, “to analyze this ruling . and then take a decision |
| ___ | ___ |
| 11:20 a.m. | 11:20 a.m. |
| One of four voting members of a U.N. panel disagreed with the majority opinion that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be freed from “arbitrary detention” — an unusual show of dissent on the panel. | One of four voting members of a U.N. panel disagreed with the majority opinion that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be freed from “arbitrary detention” — an unusual show of dissent on the panel. |
| U.N. human rights office official Christophe Peschoux said the dissenter was Vladimir Tochilovsky, a Ukrainian member of the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. | U.N. human rights office official Christophe Peschoux said the dissenter was Vladimir Tochilovsky, a Ukrainian member of the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. |
| The 3-1 vote in the case came after an Australian member of the five-person panel recused herself from the proceedings because she shares the same nationality as Assange. | The 3-1 vote in the case came after an Australian member of the five-person panel recused herself from the proceedings because she shares the same nationality as Assange. |
| ___ | ___ |
| 10:15 a.m. | 10:15 a.m. |
| Britain’s Foreign Office has rejected the United Nations panel’s finding that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention. | Britain’s Foreign Office has rejected the United Nations panel’s finding that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention. |
| Officials said in a statement Friday morning that Britain will formally contest the working group’s opinion issued earlier in Geneva. | Officials said in a statement Friday morning that Britain will formally contest the working group’s opinion issued earlier in Geneva. |
| The statement says Britain is “deeply frustrated” by the Assange situation. | The statement says Britain is “deeply frustrated” by the Assange situation. |
| “The opinion of the U.N. working group ignores the facts and the well-recognized protections of the British legal system,” the statement says. “He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy.” | “The opinion of the U.N. working group ignores the facts and the well-recognized protections of the British legal system,” the statement says. “He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy.” |
| The statement points out that an allegation of rape is still outstanding and that a European Arrest Warrant is in place. | The statement points out that an allegation of rape is still outstanding and that a European Arrest Warrant is in place. |
| It says Britain has a legal obligation to extradite Assange to Sweden for questioning. | It says Britain has a legal obligation to extradite Assange to Sweden for questioning. |
| ___ | ___ |
| 9:35 a.m. | 9:35 a.m. |
| The Swedish Prosecution Authority says the call from the U.N. working group for Julian Assange to be released and compensated “has no formal impact on the ongoing investigation, according to Swedish law.” | The Swedish Prosecution Authority says the call from the U.N. working group for Julian Assange to be released and compensated “has no formal impact on the ongoing investigation, according to Swedish law.” |
| Spokeswoman Karin Rosander said the prosecutor responsible for the case is traveling and has not yet been able to comment on the case. | Spokeswoman Karin Rosander said the prosecutor responsible for the case is traveling and has not yet been able to comment on the case. |
| Assange has been holed up in the Ecuadorean Embassy since 2012 to avoid arrest and extradition to Sweden, from where he fears he would be sent to the United States. | Assange has been holed up in the Ecuadorean Embassy since 2012 to avoid arrest and extradition to Sweden, from where he fears he would be sent to the United States. |
| ___ | ___ |
| 9:25 a.m. | 9:25 a.m. |
| A U.N. human rights panel says WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been “arbitrarily detained” by Britain and Sweden since December 2010. | A U.N. human rights panel says WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been “arbitrarily detained” by Britain and Sweden since December 2010. |
| The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said his detention should end and he should be entitled to compensation. | The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said his detention should end and he should be entitled to compensation. |
| Swedish prosecutors want to question Assange over allegations of rape stemming from a working visit he made to the country in 2010 when WikiLeaks was attracting international attention for its secret-spilling ways. | Swedish prosecutors want to question Assange over allegations of rape stemming from a working visit he made to the country in 2010 when WikiLeaks was attracting international attention for its secret-spilling ways. |
| Assange has consistently denied the allegations but declined to return to Sweden to meet with prosecutors and eventually sought refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, where he has lived since June 2012. | Assange has consistently denied the allegations but declined to return to Sweden to meet with prosecutors and eventually sought refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, where he has lived since June 2012. |
| Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |