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| Julian Assange releases full testimony to Swedish prosecutors six years after rape allegation | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Julian Assange says he is "entirely innocent" of rape in his first full testimony to Swedish prosecutors that he has defiantely made public online. | |
| The WikiLeaks editor-in-chief has spent four years inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London avoiding an impending arrest surrounding the claims of two women. | The WikiLeaks editor-in-chief has spent four years inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London avoiding an impending arrest surrounding the claims of two women. |
| It is the first time he has gone public with his version of events over the rape and sexual assault allegations. | It is the first time he has gone public with his version of events over the rape and sexual assault allegations. |
| His statement includes detailed accounts of what he calls “consensual and enjoyable” sex with a woman known as ‘SW’, which he says occurred four or five times. | His statement includes detailed accounts of what he calls “consensual and enjoyable” sex with a woman known as ‘SW’, which he says occurred four or five times. |
| Mr Assange says text messages between him and SW prove the sex was consensual. | Mr Assange says text messages between him and SW prove the sex was consensual. |
| The 45-year-old said: “I… could not believe my eyes when five days later I saw a headline in a Swedish tabloid that I was suspected of a crime and arrested in my absence. | The 45-year-old said: “I… could not believe my eyes when five days later I saw a headline in a Swedish tabloid that I was suspected of a crime and arrested in my absence. |
| "I immediately made myself available to Swedish authorities to clarify any questions that might exist, even though I had no obligation to do so.” | "I immediately made myself available to Swedish authorities to clarify any questions that might exist, even though I had no obligation to do so.” |
| In his 19-page statement, Assange also says he has been subjected to “six years of unlawful, politicised detention without charge.” | In his 19-page statement, Assange also says he has been subjected to “six years of unlawful, politicised detention without charge.” |
| He says he has been subjected to “cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment” and denied effective legal representation in the process. | He says he has been subjected to “cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment” and denied effective legal representation in the process. |
| “I want people to know the truth about how abusive this process has been,” he said. | “I want people to know the truth about how abusive this process has been,” he said. |
| “Furthermore, in the past the prosecution has fed partial information to tabloids that politically oppose me. | “Furthermore, in the past the prosecution has fed partial information to tabloids that politically oppose me. |
| “It is better that my statement, which I am happy with, and which makes it obvious to all that I am innocent, sees the light in full.” | “It is better that my statement, which I am happy with, and which makes it obvious to all that I am innocent, sees the light in full.” |
| His full statement describes how he was handcuffed and locked into Wandsworth prison, on 7 December, 2010, upon the orders of Swedish prosecutor Marianne Ny. | His full statement describes how he was handcuffed and locked into Wandsworth prison, on 7 December, 2010, upon the orders of Swedish prosecutor Marianne Ny. |
| It quickly clarifies that he is not Swedish, does not speak Swedish and has never lived in Sweden, despite widespread confusion among media. | It quickly clarifies that he is not Swedish, does not speak Swedish and has never lived in Sweden, despite widespread confusion among media. |
| He claims he was cleared of the allegation that same year by chief prosecutor Eva Finne, but that during the height of his conflict with the Pentagon, it was "immediately seized on to extinguish my freedom of movement and harm my reputation". | He claims he was cleared of the allegation that same year by chief prosecutor Eva Finne, but that during the height of his conflict with the Pentagon, it was "immediately seized on to extinguish my freedom of movement and harm my reputation". |
| Mr Assange accuses Swedish prosecutors of breaking the rules by releasing his name to a tabloid and talks of the "40 press releases and press conferences about me". | Mr Assange accuses Swedish prosecutors of breaking the rules by releasing his name to a tabloid and talks of the "40 press releases and press conferences about me". |
| "As a result, to this day more than half a million webpages falsely conlate my name with the word 'rape'," he added. | "As a result, to this day more than half a million webpages falsely conlate my name with the word 'rape'," he added. |
| In February, the United Nations called on the UK and Sweden to end 'arbitrary detention' and compensate him. | In February, the United Nations called on the UK and Sweden to end 'arbitrary detention' and compensate him. |
| Mr Assange was interviewed at the Ecuadorian London embassy for the first time last month by Ms Ny's deputy and a Swedish police officer. | Mr Assange was interviewed at the Ecuadorian London embassy for the first time last month by Ms Ny's deputy and a Swedish police officer. |
| He is accused of initiating sex with SW while she was asleep, which under Swedish law, constitutes rape. | |
| A Swedish Prosecution Authority spokesman confirmed to The Independent that Mr Assange was still being investigated on one account of "suspicion of rape: less serious crime". | |
| "We know that Julian Assange has published his statement but we can't give any comments about that," said the spokesman. | |
| "We await the transcripts of the interviews that were conducted at the Ecuadorian embassy and when we receive it from the Ecuadorian authority we will take action after that, whether that means we will not conduct any more investigations or introduce measures." | |
| More follows | More follows |