This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/media/live/2017/may/19/julian-assange-rape-inquiry-dropped-live

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Julian Assange rape inquiry dropped but UK arrest still possible - live Julian Assange rape inquiry dropped but arrest in UK still possible - live
(35 minutes later)
1.03pm BST
13:03
The Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed to the Guardian that the European arrest warrant against Assange has been dropped after Sweden’s request.
1.02pm BST
13:02
Ecuador seeking safe passage for Assange
Ecuador says it will now seek safe passage for Assange from its embassy in London to Ecuador, a source close to the case at the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry told PA.
It quoted the source saying: “Given that the European Arrest Warrant no longer holds, Ecuador will now be intensifying its diplomatic efforts with the UK so that Julian Assange can gain safe passage in order to enjoy his asylum in Ecuador.”
The source also said:
“Ecuador welcomes the decision to drop the charges against Julian Assange. This decision follows the interview of Julian Assange in Ecuador’s Embassy in London in November 2016.
“Ecuador regrets that the Swedish Prosecutor delayed more than four years in carrying out this interview.
“This unnecessary delay was despite the repeated insistence from the Ecuadorian government, since Ecuador granting asylum in 2012, that this interview was not only possible but that Ecuador would facilitate it in its Embassy.
“Ecuador was clear from the outset that it would fully co-operate with the Swedish justice system. As was once again communicated to the Swedish state as recently as May 8, Ecuador has regularly criticised as wholly unacceptable the conduct of the Swedish Prosecutor which has led to unnecessary delays in progressing this case.”
12.55pm BST
12:55
EAW discharged
The European Arrest Warrant has been formally discharged, according to Richard Ford from the Times. Earlier Sweden’s chief prosecutor Marianne Ny confirmed that Sweden had withdrawn its request for a European arrest warrant against Assange.
European Arrest Warrant for Julian Assange discharged at Westminster Magistrates Court this morning
12.49pm BST
12:49
France’s left wing former presidential candidate, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, claims Sweden’s decision is vindication for his support for Assange.
La Suède renonce aux poursuites pour viol contre Julian Assange. Nous avions raison de le soutenir.#Assange
12.47pm BST
12:47
Matthew Weaver
This is Matthew Weaver taking over from Jon.
Our old colleague David Leigh, the former investigations editor of the Guardian who worked with Assange on the edited publication of the leaked US embassy cables before falling out with the Wikileaks founder.
Leigh, now a professor of journalism at City University, reckons that Sweden’s decision to drop the investigation (there were no charges) will change nothing.
What will change after Assange sex charges dropped? My bet: exactly nothing
12.35pm BST
12:35
What we know so far
Here’s what we know so far about Swedish prosecutors’ unexpected decision to drop their investigation into a rape claim against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after almost seven years:
The decision was taken because “all prospects of pursuing the investigation under present circumstances are exhausted” and there is “no reason to believe that the decision to surrender [Assange] to Sweden can be executed in the foreseeable future”.
It means Assange no longer faces sex crime allegations in Sweden, though prosecutors stressed they are not making a finding on Assange’s guilt or innocence and the investigation could be reopened should he return to the country before the statute of limitation expires in 2020.
In London, the Metropolitan Police have said there is still a warrant for Assange’s arrest on the less serious offence of failing to surrender to the court in June 2012. It would be “obliged to execute the warrant” if Assange leaves the Ecuadorian embassy, it said.
It is not known whether US authorities are seeking Assange’s arrest for his role at the head of WikiLeaks, which has published tens of thousands of leaked classified US documents. There may be a sealed indictment.
WikiLeaks tweeted after the Swedish announcement: “UK refuses to confirm or deny whether it has already received a US extradition warrant for Julian Assange. Focus now moves to UK.”
Per E Samuelsson, Assange’s lawyer in Sweden, told Swedish radio: “This is a total victory for Julian Assange. He is now free to leave the embassy when he wants. We have won the Assange case.”
Updated
at 12.47pm BST
12.17pm BST12.17pm BST
12:1712:17
The head of the Swedish bar association, Bengt Ivarsson, has told Svenska Dagbladet that the investigation into the rape allegations against Assange “did not move forward fast enough” and has “created a negative image of the prosecution service”:The head of the Swedish bar association, Bengt Ivarsson, has told Svenska Dagbladet that the investigation into the rape allegations against Assange “did not move forward fast enough” and has “created a negative image of the prosecution service”:
A government official has a responsibility to push an investigation forward. It has not happened in this case. Quite early on it was clear that Assange was not going to allow himself to be questioned in Sweden ...A government official has a responsibility to push an investigation forward. It has not happened in this case. Quite early on it was clear that Assange was not going to allow himself to be questioned in Sweden ...
The investigation has had a major impact internationally. And how this has been handled is not an advantage for the Swedish legal system. It has created a negative image of the prosecution service.The investigation has had a major impact internationally. And how this has been handled is not an advantage for the Swedish legal system. It has created a negative image of the prosecution service.
12.12pm BST12.12pm BST
12:1212:12
This is the scene outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London where Assange has been living since taking refuge there in 2012. There’s not a huge amount happening at the moment ...This is the scene outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London where Assange has been living since taking refuge there in 2012. There’s not a huge amount happening at the moment ...
12.06pm BST12.06pm BST
12:0612:06
The British Home Office has said the decision to drop the investigation into Assange is “a matter for the Swedish authorities and not one which the UK government has had any involvement in”.The British Home Office has said the decision to drop the investigation into Assange is “a matter for the Swedish authorities and not one which the UK government has had any involvement in”.
It added that Britain had a legal obligation to execute the European arrest warrant and arrest Assange, and that the EAW had been upheld by the UK courts, including the supreme court, which at every stage had found his extradition to Sweden would be “entirely lawful”.It added that Britain had a legal obligation to execute the European arrest warrant and arrest Assange, and that the EAW had been upheld by the UK courts, including the supreme court, which at every stage had found his extradition to Sweden would be “entirely lawful”.
The EAW will be formally withdrawn in the UK courts, it said.The EAW will be formally withdrawn in the UK courts, it said.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.18pm BSTat 12.18pm BST
11.59am BST11.59am BST
11:5911:59
My colleague Matt Weaver says Peter Tatchell, one of Assange’s most prominent supporters, has given a guarded welcome to the decision, but said he still faces the risk of extradition to the US. Tatchell told BBC news: Matthew Weaver
It is good news from Julian’s point of view. I’m not in a position to say whether the allegations against him were true or not. He has always denied them. He was never charged with any sexual offence, these are only at the level of allegations. So it is a relief that they are being no longer being pursued. But it is not entirely satisfactory because the Swedish prosecutors seemed to say that they case could be reopened if he at any point returned to Sweden. My colleague Matt Weaver says Peter Tatchell, one of Assange’s most prominent supporters, has given a guarded welcome to the decision, but said he still faces the risk of extradition to the US.
Tatchell told BBC news: “It is good news from Julian’s point of view. I’m not in a position to say whether the allegations against him were true or not. He has always denied them. He was never charged with any sexual offence, these are only at the level of allegations. So it is a relief that they are being no longer being pursued. But it is not entirely satisfactory because the Swedish prosecutors seemed to say that they case could be reopened if he at any point returned to Sweden.”
Before he could leave the embassy, Tatchell added, Assange would need to “consult his legal advisers and begin some dialogue with the Metropolitan police and if necessary the attorney general”. He added:Before he could leave the embassy, Tatchell added, Assange would need to “consult his legal advisers and begin some dialogue with the Metropolitan police and if necessary the attorney general”. He added:
Much more substantive is the risk if he stepped outside the embassy that he could face extradition to the United States. We know that there is an ongoing national security investigation into Julian Assange and Wikileaks. We believe that a secret grand jury has been empanelled ... US attorney general Jeff Sessions said arresting Assange was a priority. So he certainly is in danger of extradition to the US.Much more substantive is the risk if he stepped outside the embassy that he could face extradition to the United States. We know that there is an ongoing national security investigation into Julian Assange and Wikileaks. We believe that a secret grand jury has been empanelled ... US attorney general Jeff Sessions said arresting Assange was a priority. So he certainly is in danger of extradition to the US.
Updated
at 12.36pm BST
11.52am BST11.52am BST
11:5211:52
Assange’s Swedish lawyer, Per E Samuelsson, has been talking to Swedish media. According to Svenska Dagbladet, he said Assange was “happy but laconic” and described the day as “a major victory for my client and myself”:Assange’s Swedish lawyer, Per E Samuelsson, has been talking to Swedish media. According to Svenska Dagbladet, he said Assange was “happy but laconic” and described the day as “a major victory for my client and myself”:
This is one of the happiest days of my life as a lawyer. The decision is based on the fact that he was questioned in November 2016 and could provide a good explanation of what happened. In April this year, we had evidence that the US is chasing him. It seems completely unreasonable for Sweden to prevent him from obtaining political asylum.This is one of the happiest days of my life as a lawyer. The decision is based on the fact that he was questioned in November 2016 and could provide a good explanation of what happened. In April this year, we had evidence that the US is chasing him. It seems completely unreasonable for Sweden to prevent him from obtaining political asylum.
The lawyer added that the case had been dropped because prosecutors approved Assange’s argument about what had happened when the alleged rape occurred: “This is obviously a case of consensual sex between two adults”.The lawyer added that the case had been dropped because prosecutors approved Assange’s argument about what had happened when the alleged rape occurred: “This is obviously a case of consensual sex between two adults”.
With regard to the UK arrest warrant, under which Assange could still be arrested if he leaves the Ecuadorian embassy, he said he did “not know what Julian will decide to do now”.With regard to the UK arrest warrant, under which Assange could still be arrested if he leaves the Ecuadorian embassy, he said he did “not know what Julian will decide to do now”.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.09pm BSTat 12.09pm BST
11.41am BST11.41am BST
11:4111:41
A lawyer for Assange has welcomed the Swedish decision. Christophe Marchand, a member of Assange’s Brussels-based legal team, told AFP:A lawyer for Assange has welcomed the Swedish decision. Christophe Marchand, a member of Assange’s Brussels-based legal team, told AFP:
We have been waiting a long time for this decision. Julian Assange has been a victim of a huge abuse of procedure. We are very pleased and very moved, as this marks the end of his nightmare.We have been waiting a long time for this decision. Julian Assange has been a victim of a huge abuse of procedure. We are very pleased and very moved, as this marks the end of his nightmare.
11.39am BST
11:39
WikiLeaks, the organisation Assange founded to “analyse and publish large datasets of censored or otherwise restricted official materials involving war, spying and corruption”, has said the ball is now in Britain’s court:
UK states it will arrest Assange regardless & refuses to confirm or deny whether it has already received an extradition request from the US.
Updated
at 11.42am BST
11.35am BST
11:35
Here are the key remarks from the chief prosecutor, Marianne Ny:
In view of the fact that all prospects of pursuing the investigation under present circumstances are exhausted, it appears that it is no longer proportionate to maintain the arrest of Julian Assange in his absence. Consequently, there is no basis upon which to continue the investigation.
Updated
at 11.44am BST
11.34am BST
11:34
Swedish prosecutors have released a statement explaining the reasoning behind their unexpected decision to drop the case against Assange.
Here are the key paragraphs:
Almost five years ago Julian Assange was permitted refuge at the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he has resided ever since. In doing so, he has escaped all attempts by the Swedish and British authorities to execute the decision to surrender him to Sweden in accordance with the EU rules concerning the European arrest warrant.
According to Swedish legislation, a criminal investigation is to be conducted as quickly as possible. At the point when a prosecutor has exhausted the possibilities to continue the investigation, the prosecutor is obliged to discontinue the investigation.
At this point, all possibilities to conduct the investigation are exhausted. In order to proceed with the case, Julian Assange would have to be formally notified of the criminal suspicions against him. We cannot expect to receive assistance from Ecuador regarding this. Therefore the investigation is discontinued.
As a result of the decision to discontinue the investigation, the prosecutor has reversed the decision to detain him in his absence and withdrawn the EAW.
Updated
at 11.45am BST
11.28am BST
11:28
The prosecutors say, however, that the investigation “could be reopened if Assange returns to Sweden before the statute of limitations ends in 2020”.
A second allegation of sexual assault, made by a second Swedish woman, was dropped by Swedish authorities in 2015 after the statute of limitations expired.
11.25am BST
11:25
The prosecutors are holding a press conference to explain their decision.
The chief prosecutor, Marianne Ny, has said the rape case has been dropped essentially because there is no possibility of arresting Assange in the foreseeable future:
The investigation into Julian Assange has been discontinued because there was no reason to believe that the decision to surrender him to Sweden can be executed in the foreseeable future.
Updated
at 11.26am BST
11.17am BST
11:17
My colleague Vikram Dodd has more on the London police warning that Assange still faces arrest by Scotland Yard should he step out of the Ecuadorian embassy:
There is still an outstanding warrant – albeit for a much less serious offence – for Assange’s arrest, issued by Westminster magistrates court following him failing to surrender to the court on 29 June 2012.
The Met has said it is ‘obliged to execute’ that warrant if Assange leaves the embassy, but added it would ‘provide a level of resourcing which is proportionate to that offence’.
In October 2015, the Met ended the permanent presence of officers waiting to pounce should Assange emerge from the embassy. That decision came at a time when he was wanted for a much more serious offence relating to the alleged sexual assault in Sweden.
On Friday, the force said it would not comment further on its operational plan, adding its ‘priority must continue to be arresting those who are currently wanted in the capital in connection with serious violent or sexual offences for the protection of Londoners’.
Updated
at 11.46am BST
11.12am BST
11:12
My colleagues Peter Walker and Damien Gayle have a handy timeline of the near-seven-year standoff between Assange and the Swedish authorities that began when he was invited to address a seminar in Stockholm in August 2010 and reportedly had sex with two women who subsequently expressed concerns about the encounters.
Updated
at 11.49am BST
11.05am BST
11:05
Assange posted a this picture on his personal Twitter account shortly after the Swedist prosecutor’s surprise announcement:
pic.twitter.com/dDvB1Vekhg
11.00am BST
11:00
As my colleague Esther Addley notes in the Guardian’s initial news story on the surprise Swedish announcement, Assange has been living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012 after losing court battles to avoid extradition to Sweden over the claims, which he has always denied.
While the Stockholm decision potentially allows the 45-year-old Australian to leave the embassy, his lawyers have repeatedly said that he would not do so without assurances that he will not face extradition to the US over possible espionage charges, linked to Wikileaks’ publishing activities.
The Metropolitan police statement said a warrant for the arrest of Assange still stands following his failure to surrender to the court on 29 June 2012, adding the service “is obliged to execute the warrant should he leave the embassy”.
Updated
at 11.03am BST
10.56am BST
10:56
Prosecutors in Sweden have said they are dropping a preliminary investigation into an allegation of rape against the WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange.
More details are expected at a press conference later on Friday, but the country’s director of public prosecutions, Marianne Ny, said in a statement this morning she had “today decided to discontinue the investigation regarding suspected rape (lesser degree) by Julian Assange”.
Shortly after the Swedish announcement, the Metropolitan police in London issued a statement confirming a warrant for the arrest of Assange still stands following his failure to surrender to the court on 29 June 2012.
We’ll bring you the latest developments as we get them.
Updated
at 11.50am BST