WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange landed on a remote island in the Pacific yesterday, where his long-running campaign to avoid extradition to the United States will formally end and he will finally be a free man. The 52-year-old will appear before a judge in the US territory of the Northern Mariana Islands to plead guilty to one charge, after the US dropped 17 other espionage charges against him.
Having already served 62 months in jail, he will then fly to his native Australia to be reunited with his wife, two young sons and other members of the family. It follows his dramatic release from Belmarsh Prison in London – where he has spent five years, largely in solitary confinement, fighting extradition – and a deal with US prosecutors.
Assange’s wife, Stella, said she had travelled to Australia with the couple’s two young sons, Gabriel and Max, on Sunday when it became clear that Assange would be freed. “It is hard to believe that Julian has been in prison for so long,” she said.
“It had become normalised. I am grateful to the people who made this possible, but I am also angry that it ever came to this. Overall I am elated, but I cannot believe it is actually happening until I see Julian.”
She said her husband’s release would not have happened without the intervention of Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese, who has been increasingly vocal in demands for the United States to drop charges against Assange. “The public climate has shifted, and everyone understands that Julian has been the victim,” said Ms Assange.
Assange will plead guilty to a charge under the Espionage Act of obtaining and disclosing information of national importance.
Denne historien er fra June 26, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra June 26, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Ten-man Forest earn draw in feisty battle at the Bridge
Chelsea’s winning run in the Premier League was brought to an end by 10-man Nottingham Forest who battled to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge to maintain their own strong start to the season.
Brighton fight back to end Tottenham's winning run
Brighton scored three times in 18 second-half minutes to fight back from two goals down to stun Tottenham and claim a 3-2 win after an entertaining encounter at Amex Stadium.
United's vanilla display at Villa may yet save Ten Hag
Manchester United have rarely found relief in a five-game winless run but, for the second time in four days, there was some respite for the beleaguered Erik ten Hag.
One day in October that we have to keep remembering
Documentary maker Dan Reed's new film focuses on just one of the kibbutzim attacked on 7 October, as he explains to Guy Walters why the memory must never be allowed to fade
Wreck of 'ghost ship' found off the coast of California
The USS Stewart was deliberately sunk on 24 May 1946
'Impossible' for Beijing to rule Taiwan as motherland
As China seeks to 'reunite' the self-governing island with the mainland, Lai Ching-te insists his country is 'independent'
Heinz apologises as Black family advert sparks outrage
Heinz has issued an apology after it came under fire for an advertisement currently on display in Tube stations across London.
Landlord charges 'entitled' diners for wasting pub food
A pub landlord has warned customers he will charge them extra for large amounts of food they do not finish from his all-you-caneat roast dinner buffet.
Man endures cancer battle away from home as he waits for cladding work to begin
A homeowner who was evacuated from his flat a year ago due to dangerous cladding faces a battle with cancer from his temporary home as remediation work has not yet started.
'No one should live with threat of domestic abuse'
Dermot O'Leary backs Independent campaign for a refuge