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U.N. panel: WikiLeaks founder Assange detained arbitrarily U.N. panel: WikiLeaks founder Assange detained arbitrarily
(about 1 hour later)
LONDON — A United Nations panel on Friday said WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been “arbitrarily detained” and urged Britain and Sweden to end his “deprivation of liberty.”LONDON — A United Nations panel on Friday said WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been “arbitrarily detained” and urged Britain and Sweden to end his “deprivation of liberty.”
Assange is “entitled to his freedom of movement and to compensation,” said the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in a statement.Assange is “entitled to his freedom of movement and to compensation,” said the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in a statement.
Assange has been holed up for over three years in the Ecuadoran Embassy in central London, a stone’s throw from the famous department store Harrods, where he fled to escape extradition to Sweden. Assange has been holed up for more than three years in the Ecuadoran Embassy in central London, a stone’s throw from the famous department store Harrods, where he fled to escape extradition to Sweden.
He is wanted for questioning in Sweden over allegations that include rape — accusations he strenuously denies. He is wanted for questioning in Sweden over allegations that include rape — accusations he strenuously denies. Assange’s supporters fear that Sweden could hand him over to the United States for possible charges over leaked documents, including classified State Department cables.
The U.N. panel has no legal authority but its decisions often carry weight in international disputes. The U.N. panel, based in Geneva, has no legal authority but its decisions often carry weight in international disputes.
[Did Assange come to Hillary Clinton’s defense?]
Friday’s ruling is clearly a publicity win for Assange, who is expected to use the moral voice of the panel to argue for his release. But it’s not clear if he will be leaving the embassy anytime soon. Swedish prosecutors have said that the ruling “has no formal impact on the ongoing investigation, according to Swedish law.”
“Having concluded that there was a continuous deprivation of liberty, the Working Group also found that the detention was arbitrary because he was held in isolation during the first stage of detention and because of the lack of diligence by the Swedish Prosecutor in its investigations, which resulted in the lengthy detention of Mr. Assange,” the panel’s statement said.“Having concluded that there was a continuous deprivation of liberty, the Working Group also found that the detention was arbitrary because he was held in isolation during the first stage of detention and because of the lack of diligence by the Swedish Prosecutor in its investigations, which resulted in the lengthy detention of Mr. Assange,” the panel’s statement said.
Assange was originally arrested in London in 2010 following a European Arrest Warrant issued by Sweden who wanted to question him over alleged sex crimes. He was detained at Wandsworth Prison where spent 10 days and was kept in solitary confinement.Assange was originally arrested in London in 2010 following a European Arrest Warrant issued by Sweden who wanted to question him over alleged sex crimes. He was detained at Wandsworth Prison where spent 10 days and was kept in solitary confinement.
After the British courts ruled that the extradition could go ahead, he fled to the Ecuadoran Embassy, which has offered him asylum amid fears he could eventually face charges in the United States over leaked documents, including classified State Department cables. After the British courts ruled that the extradition could go ahead, he took refuge over the protection of Ecuador, which has offered him asylum
In an indirect swipe at Sweden’s judicial system, the panel noted that Assange was never formally charged in Sweden — only placed under preliminary investigation, the Associated Press reported.In an indirect swipe at Sweden’s judicial system, the panel noted that Assange was never formally charged in Sweden — only placed under preliminary investigation, the Associated Press reported.
Assange, meanwhile, vowed Thursday to demand the return of his passport from British officials if backed by the U.N. panel. He is expected to make a statement at 7 a.m. Eastern time. [Why is Assange picking a fight with academia?]
Assange, meanwhile, vowed Thursday to demand the return of his passport from British officials if backed by the U.N. panel. He is expected to make a statement at 7 a.m. EST.
In Sweden — which seeks to question Assange on alleged sex crimes — the country’s Foreign Ministry has said the that the U.N.’s view “differs from that of the Swedish authorities.”In Sweden — which seeks to question Assange on alleged sex crimes — the country’s Foreign Ministry has said the that the U.N.’s view “differs from that of the Swedish authorities.”
In 2014, Assange filed a complaint against Britain and Sweden with the U.N. group over what he said was his “arbitrary detention.”In 2014, Assange filed a complaint against Britain and Sweden with the U.N. group over what he said was his “arbitrary detention.”
Friday’s ruling is clearly a publicity win for Assange, who is expected to use the moral voice of the panel to argue for his release. But it’s not clear if he will be leaving the embassy anytime soon. Swedish prosecutors have said that the ruling has “has no formal impact on the ongoing investigation, according to Swedish law.” And British authorities are standing firm, saying he will face arrest if his leaves the diplomatic compound.
And British authorities are standing firm. “This changes nothing. We completely reject any claim that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention. The U.K. has already made clear to the U.N. that we will formally contest the working group’s opinion,” said the Foreign Office in a statement on Friday.
The British government said Assange avoided arrest by fleeing to the Ecuadoran Embassy and that it was obligated to extradite him to Sweden over an outstanding rape allegation. “Julian Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the UK. The opinion of the U.N. Working Group ignores the facts and the well-recognized protections of the British legal system,” the statement continued. “He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy. An allegation of rape is still outstanding and a European Arrest Warrant in place,” it continued.
“This changes nothing. We completely reject any claim that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention. The UK has already made clear to the UN that we will formally contest the working group’s opinion,” said the Foreign Office in a statement on Friday. A Downing Street spokesman told reporters on Thursday that the U.N. panel’s findings would not be “legally binding” in Britain.
“Julian Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the UK. The opinion of the U.N. Working Group ignores the facts and the well-recognized protections of the British legal system. He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy. An allegation of rape is still outstanding and a European Arrest Warrant in place,” it continued. Citing spiraling costs, the London Metropolitan Police stopped their 24/7 policing of the embassy last year, but they continue to monitor it covertly.
A Downing Street spokesman told reporters on Thursday that the U.N. panel’s findings would not be “legally binding” in the U.K.
Citing spiraling costs, the London Metropolitan Police stopped their 24/7 policing of the embassy last year. But they continue to monitor it covertly and stress they will seek to arrest him should he step foot on British soil.