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WikiLeaks founder: U.N. panel’s backing over detention ‘significant’ win WikiLeaks founder: U.N. panel’s backing over detention ‘significant’ win
(about 5 hours later)
LONDON — WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange called on Britain and others Friday to allow his freedom after a U.N. panel declared he has been “arbitrarily detained” as he remains in diplomatic sanctuary to avoid arrest.LONDON — WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange called on Britain and others Friday to allow his freedom after a U.N. panel declared 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 he gave no indication of whether he would attempt to end his more than three-year stay inside the diplomatic compound.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 he 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.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.
[Britain stands firm][Britain stands firm]
“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.“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.
British and Swedish officials, however, rejected the ruling and said that Assange is free to leave the embassy whenever he wants. If he walks out, he faces arrest under a European Arrest Warrant and for skipping bail. British and Swedish officials, however, rejected the ruling and said that Assange has not been detained and is free to leave the embassy whenever he wants. If he walks out, he faces arrest under a European Arrest Warrant and for skipping bail.
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.”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 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. Assange’s supporters fear that Sweden could hand him over to the United States for possible charges over leaked documents, including hundreds of thousands of U.S. diplomatic cables.
The U.N. panel has no legal authority, but its decisions often carry weight in international disputes. The U.N. panel has no legal standing, but its decisions often carry moral clout in international disputes.
“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 in explaining its determination.“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 in explaining its determination.
[Did Assange come to Hillary Clinton’s defense?] [Did Assange come to Hillary Clinton’s defense?
Assange’s lawyers called it “resounding victory” and urged his immediate release. Assange’s lawyers called it a “resounding victory” and urged his immediate release.
Wearing a dark suit, Assange told a news conference that the findings of the panel were “now a matter of settled law.” Wearing a dark suit, Assange told reporters that the findings of the panel were “now a matter of settled law.”
He described the comments of British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond — who called the panel’s ruling “ridiculous” — as “insulting” to the United Nations.He described the comments of British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond — who called the panel’s ruling “ridiculous” — as “insulting” to the United Nations.
“I miss my family,” Assange said. “We have today a really significant victory that has brought a smile to my face.” Swedish prosecutors, meanwhile, said that the ruling “has no formal impact on the ongoing investigation, according to Swedish law.”
Swedish prosecutors, meanwhile, have said that the ruling “has no formal impact on the ongoing investigation, according to Swedish law.” “Mr. Assange is free to leave the embassy at any point. Thus, he is not being deprived of his liberty there due to any decision or action taken by the Swedish authorities,” the Swedish Foreign Ministry said in a letter to the panel.
“Mr. Assange is free to leave the embassy at any point. Thus, he is not being deprived of his liberty there due to any decision or action taken by the Swedish authorities,” the Foreign Ministry said in a letter to the panel. The statement also said that Sweden has not received an extradition request for Assange from U.S. authorities.
Assange was originally arrested in London in 2010 following a European Arrest Warrant issued by Swedish authorities, 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. Elisabeth Massi Fritz, a lawyer for the alleged Swedish rape victim, said in a statement to the BBC that the ruling was “insulting and offensive” to all crime victims. A man suspected of rape should be not be awarded compensation after avoiding the judicial process, she said.
After the British courts ruled that the extradition could go ahead, he took refuge under 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.
[Why is Assange picking a fight with academia?][Why is Assange picking a fight with academia?]
In 2014, Assange filed a complaint against Britain and Sweden with the U.N. group over what he said was his “arbitrary detention.” British authorities say they will contest the ruling and that Assange still faces arrest if he leaves the diplomatic compound.
And British authorities are standing firm, saying he will face arrest if his leaves the diplomatic compound. “The opinion of the U.N. Working Group ignores the facts and the well-recognized protections of the British legal system,” the Foreign Office said in a statement. “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 U.K. has already made clear to the U.N. that we will formally contest the working group’s opinion,” the Foreign Office said in a statement Friday.
“Julian Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the U.K. 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 said.
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.
Late Friday afternoon, Assange stepped onto the embassy’s balcony to address his supporters and a phalanx of photographers and journalists gathered outside on a chilly winter day.
“If this illegal, immoral, unethical detention continues," he said, brandishing a copy of the U.N. statement, "there will be criminal consequences.”
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Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.