Julian Assange's Release: A New Chapter Begins
After nearly 14 years of legal battles, Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, is now a free man. This historic moment was marked by an agreement with the US judiciary, which concluded on Wednesday, allowing Assange to walk out of a US federal court in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, a small American territory in the Pacific. Judge Ramona V. Manglona announced, 'You will be able to walk out of this room a free man.'
The Legal Agreement and Its Implications
The 52-year-old whistleblower, who had been accused of publishing hundreds of thousands of confidential American documents in the 2010s, pleaded guilty to obtaining and disclosing information on national defense. This plea was part of an agreement that saw him sentenced to 62 months in prison, already covered by the five years he served in pre-trial detention in the United Kingdom. The US Department of Justice clarified that Assange would not have the right to return to the United States without authorization.
Reactions and Future Prospects
Assange's release has been met with mixed reactions. His wife, Stella Assange, expressed immense relief, highlighting the toll the ordeal had taken on his health. 'The priority now is that Julian regains his health,' she said. Barry Pollack, one of Assange's lawyers, emphasized that Assange had 'suffered enormously in his fight for freedom of expression and freedom of the press.' Meanwhile, former US Vice President Mike Pence criticized the agreement as 'false justice.' Despite the controversy, Assange's supporters, including former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, hailed the decision as a victory for press freedom.
- Julian Assange immediately boarded a private plane heading to Canberra, Australia, where he is expected to arrive in the evening. His mother, Christine Assange, expressed her gratitude, stating, 'I am grateful that my son's ordeal is finally coming to an end.'
- Assange's release comes after British justice was set to examine an appeal against his extradition to the United States. This agreement nullifies the extradition request, marking a significant turn in Assange's long-standing legal saga.
- Stella Assange has launched an appeal for donations to cover the $520,000 cost of the chartered plane that transported her husband. She mentioned that Julian was 'not allowed to take a commercial flight.'
- The agreement was signed six days before the court hearing, and it required Assange to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information. In return, the US committed to withdrawing the extradition request.
