Category Archives: Julian Assange

Swedish Court to Julian Assange: You’re Not Going Anywhere

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The Stockholm District Court in Sweden today upheld an arrest warrant for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, rejecting a motion that might have allowed him to leave the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he has been holed up for two years to avoid extradition to Sweden.

Judge Lena Egelin deliberated for about an hour before releasing her verdict. She said that Assange is still suspected, with probable cause, of sex crimes; therefore the detention order will remain in effect. Assanges Swedish attorney says they will appeal the ruling.

Prosecutors in Sweden obtained the warrant in late 2011 for allegations of rape and sexual molestation made by two women in Sweden during a visit Assange made to that country. He has denied the allegations, stating that his relations with the women were consensual. Assange has not actually been charged with any crime in Sweden but is wanted for questioning in the case. Swedish authorities have insisted on questioning him in Sweden instead of traveling to London to do so.

Assange fled to the Ecuadorean embassy in June 2012 after losing a protracted legal battle to avoid extradition to Sweden for questioning. Assange and his attorneys have asserted that the warrant was just a pretext to extradite him to the U.S. to face possible espionage charges for publishing documents leaked by Chelsea Manning.

Assanges legal team argued that Swedish prosecutors acted improperly by not agreeing to interview Assange at the embassy in London instead of forcing him to return.

We are confident about the hearing, Assanges lawyer Olsson told Agence France Press prior to the ruling on Tuesday. We think we have very strong arguments for the court to overrule the original decision.

Even if the court had ruled today to cancel the warrant, it would not have automatically resolved the case against Assange in Sweden. He would also still face arrest for breach of bail in the U.K. if he left the embassy, so passage for him out of England, under diplomatic cover, would have to be negotiated with U.K. authorities.

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Swedish Court to Julian Assange: You’re Not Going Anywhere

Julian Assange’s Arrest Warrant Upheld by Swedish Court

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In this July 30, 2013 file photo released by Sunshine Press Productions, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange sits inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.

Image: Sunshine Press Productions, File/Associated Press

By Brian Ries2014-07-16 17:14:10 UTC

A Swedish court has upheld the detention order on Julian Assange, reaffirming the legal basis for an international warrant that has kept the WikiLeaks founder in hiding in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London.

Assanges defense team plans on appealing the order to a higher court.

Assange is wanted by Swedish police for questioning over allegations of sexual misconduct. He has been holed in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London since seeking asylum there in June 2012. British police on guard outside the embassy have orders to arrest him if he ever steps out.

Assange's U.S. lawyer, Michael Ratner, tells The Guardian why the WikiLeaks chief is fighting the extradition order.

The fear here was not about Sweden but that Sweden was going to be a place that would extradite him to the U.S., he said.

Until we can get an assurance from the U.S. government of non-prosecution, leaving the Ecuadorean embassy would be a very high-risk move.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Julian Assange’s Arrest Warrant Upheld by Swedish Court

Assange hits back at Brandis ‘claptrap’

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AAP George Brandis says Julian Assange should be "man enough" to face sexual assault claims against him.

Julian Assange has hit back at Attorney General George Brandis for saying the Wikileaks founder should be "man enough" to face Swedish sexual assault allegations.

A Swedish court on Wednesday upheld an arrest warrant against Assange. The warrant was issued in 2010 over allegations of rape and sexual molestation which Assange has denied.

The court's decision is another setback for the 43-year-old Australian, who has been holed up at the Ecuadorian embassy in London for more than two years in a bid to avoid extradition to Sweden.

Assange says he fears that if he goes to Sweden he will be extradited on to the United States to face charges for publishing classified material.

But Senator Brandis says Assange should face the claims.

"I think Mr Assange should be man enough to face the allegations against him of being a sexual predator," he told ABC radio on Thursday.

Assange says Senator Brandis had merely stolen comments US Secretary of State John Kerry made about intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden.

"AG Brandis should stop plagiarising sexist claptrap and start doing his job: defending the legal rights of all Australians," Assange said in a statement to AAP, sent by his Australian lawyer Greg Barns.

Courage is not the sole preserve of men, Assange said.

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Assange hits back at Brandis 'claptrap'

Julian Assange on Aiding Snowden, Tift w/ the Intercept, and If He’ll Leave the Embassy – Video

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Julian Assange on Aiding Snowden, Tift w/ the Intercept, and If He #39;ll Leave the Embassy
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange sits down with Democracy Now! inside the Ecuadorean embassy in London, where he has been living in political asylum for over...

By: freespeechtv

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Julian Assange on Aiding Snowden, Tift w/ the Intercept, and If He'll Leave the Embassy - Video