'Julian Assange is free'
In a statement released by WikiLeaks, it was revealed that "Julian Assange is free. He left Belmarsh maximum security prison on the morning of June 24, after having spent 1,901 days there." (Pic credit: AP)
Early life and hacking beginnings
Creation of WikiLeaks
Major document releases
In 2010, WikiLeaks released over 90,000 classified US military documents on the Afghanistan war and approximately 400,000 secret files on the Iraq war, marking the largest security breaches in US military history. In 2011, the site published 250,000 secret diplomatic cables from US embassies around the world. (Pic credit: AP)
Impact and controversy
2016 election interference allegations
In the lead-up to the 2016 US presidential election, WikiLeaks once again garnered attention by releasing a substantial number of emails belonging to Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman. Clinton was the Democratic nominee in the race.
A report by the US Senate in 2020 alleged that Russia utilised WikiLeaks to assist Donald Trump in his successful bid for the presidency. However, Trump rejected the report's findings, calling it a hoax, while Russia also denied any involvement in interfering with the election. (Pic credit: Reuters)
Arrest and legal proceedings
In late 2010, Julian Assange faced legal challenges in Sweden. Two WikiLeaks volunteers from the country accused him of sexual misconduct, leading to a court in Sweden issuing an order for his detention in November. The following month, Assange was apprehended by authorities in the UK, acting on a European Arrest Warrant originating from Sweden. (Pic credit: AP)
Assange refuted the accusations, asserting that they were merely a pretext to extradite him to the US. He maintained his innocence and suggested that the allegations were a means to ultimately transfer him into US custody.
Seeking asylum in Ecuador
In June 2012, after losing his UK Supreme Court extradition challenge, Assange sought asylum in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, which was granted in August 2012. This led to a years-long standoff with British authorities maintaining a 24/7 guard outside the embassy. (Pic credit: AFP)
Life in the Embassy
Julian Assange spent seven years confined within the Ecuadorian embassy in London, living in tight quarters. Although the Swedish authorities ceased their investigation into allegations against him in 2017, law enforcement in the UK insisted that he would face arrest for breaching bail conditions if he left the embassy.
While living in these restricted circumstances, Assange became a father to two children with his partner, Stella Moris. The couple later wed in 2022, with the ceremony taking place in Belmarsh prison, where Assange was being held. (Pic credit: AFP)
Arrest and US extradition request
Assange faced a significant setback on April 11, 2019, when he was apprehended following the Ecuadorian government's decision to withdraw his asylum status. As a result of violating bail conditions, Assange was sentenced to 50 weeks in prison.
The US government took further action against Assange in June 2019 by officially submitting an extradition request. The request included 18 charges against him, which encompassed conspiracy to hack US government computers and violating espionage laws. These charges stemmed from Assange's involvement in the publication of classified documents through WikiLeaks. (Pic credit: AFP)
Extradition hearings and mental health concerns
Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, stayed in London's Belmarsh maximum security prison even after his sentence ended in September 2019, as he awaited hearings related to his potential extradition. In 2021, a judge in the UK decided not to extradite Assange, stating concerns about his mental well-being and the possibility of him taking his own life.
Nevertheless, the US successfully appealed the decision in December 2021 by providing guarantees regarding the conditions of his treatment if extradited. In December 2021, the US successfully appealed the case by providing guarantees regarding his treatment while in custody. (Pic credit: AFP)
Final legal challenges
In the summer of 2022, the UK gave the green light to extradite Julian Assange. However, his attorneys persisted in contesting the ruling, asserting that political factors underpinned the decision and that it posed a danger to the principles of free expression.
Subsequently, the High Court allowed for a comprehensive appeal procedure, which effectively postponed the ultimate outcome of the case. The legal battle surrounding Assange's potential extradition remains ongoing, with the final resolution yet to be determined. (Pic credit: AFP)
Conclusion of legal saga
Assange has reached a plea deal with US authorities, according to which he will admit guilt in a US court to one count of conspiracy to acquire and release classified national defense information. As part of the agreement, Assange is expected to receive a sentence of 62 months, which will be considered as time already served, possibly bringing an end to his lengthy legal battle.
The plea deal could mark the conclusion of Assange's protracted legal journey, which has spanned several years. (Pic credit: AFP)
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