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WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange has been released from a UK prison this morning, his team said.
He spent five years in London’s Belmarsh Prison while fighting extradition to the United States, charged with 18 counts of distributing classified information.
Assange, 52, has agreed to plead guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to obtain and disclose classified U.S. defense documents, according to documents from the U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands.
Assange is currently serving a 62-month sentence (time already served).
“Julian Assange is free,” WikiLeaks said in a statement posted on X.
“He left Belmarsh maximum security prison on the morning of June 24 after spending 1,901 days there. He was granted bail by the High Court in London and released to Stansted Airport in the afternoon, where he boarded a flight to leave the UK.”
Julian Assange is free
Julian Assange is free. On the morning of June 24, he left Belmarsh maximum security prison, where he had spent 1,901 days. He was granted bail by the High Court in London and released in the afternoon at Stansted Airport, where he boarded a…
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) June 24, 2024
Julian Assange boarded a flight at London Stansted Airport at 5pm (BST) on Monday 24 June. I would like to thank everyone who has worked to secure his freedom.#FreeJulianAssange pic.twitter.com/Pqp5pBAhSQ
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) June 25, 2024
“This was the result of a global campaign that included grassroots organizers, press freedom activists, lawmakers, and leaders across the political spectrum all the way to the United Nations. It created space for protracted negotiations with the U.S. Department of Justice, culminating in an agreement that has yet to be formally finalized. We will provide more information soon,” WikiLeaks wrote.
“After more than five years in a 2x3m cell, spending 23 hours a day in isolation, he will soon be reunited with his wife Stella Assange and children, who have only known their father in prison.
WikiLeaks publishes groundbreaking stories about government corruption and human rights abuses, holding those in power accountable for their actions. As editor-in-chief, Julian paid a cruel price for these principles and for people’s right to know.
As he returns to Australia, we thank all those who supported us, fought for us and remain fully committed to his freedom.
Julian’s freedom is our freedom,” WikiLeaks said.
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