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| WikiLeaks founder: U.N. panel’s backing over detention ‘significant’ win | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| LONDON — WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange called on Britain and others Friday to heed a U.N. panel’s decision that he has been “arbitrarily detained” as he remains in diplomatic sanctuary to avoid arrest. | |
| Assange — speaking by video link from his refuge inside the Ecuadoran Embassy in London — said he considered the declaration by the U.N. group to be a “significant” victory, but gave no indication of whether he would attempt to end his more than three-year stay inside the diplomatic compound. | |
| He urged authorities to abide by the decision and lift orders for his arrest and extradition to Sweden, where he faces questioning on allegations including rape — charges that he strongly denies. | |
| “It’s now the task of Sweden and Britain to implement the verdict” of the U.N. group, Assange said, calling the decision the “end of the road” for the arrest orders. Britain, however, said it would not change its plans to arrest Assange if he leaves the embassy grounds. | |
| Hours earlier in Geneva, the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said 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 a statement from the panel. | |
| 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, based in Geneva, 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?] | [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.” | 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 took refuge over the protection of Ecuador, which has offered him asylum | 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. |
| [Why is Assange picking a fight with academia?] | [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. | |
| 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.” |
| And British authorities are standing firm, saying he will face arrest if his leaves the diplomatic compound. | And British authorities are standing firm, saying he will face arrest if his leaves the diplomatic compound. |
| “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. | “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. |
| “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. | “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. |
| A Downing Street spokesman told reporters on Thursday that the U.N. panel’s findings would not be “legally binding” in Britain. | A Downing Street spokesman told reporters on Thursday that the U.N. panel’s findings would not be “legally binding” in Britain. |
| Citing spiraling costs, the London Metropolitan Police stopped their 24/7 policing of the embassy last year, but they continue to monitor it covertly. | Citing spiraling costs, the London Metropolitan Police stopped their 24/7 policing of the embassy last year, but they continue to monitor it covertly. |
| Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report. |