Assange gets released from UK prison
Date
6/27/2024 7:18:11 AM
(MENAFN) Julian Assange, co-founder of WikiLeaks, has been released from Belmarsh maximum security prison in the United Kingdom as part of a negotiated plea agreement with the US Department of Justice. After a five-year legal battle resisting extradition to the United States, Assange faced charges related to the unauthorized acquisition and disclosure of classified national security information, which implicated alleged American war crimes.
Under the terms of the agreement, Assange has reportedly agreed to plead guilty during court proceedings scheduled in the Northern Mariana Islands, a United States Pacific territory. The expected sentence of approximately five years is set to match the duration of his incarceration in the United Kingdom, with indications that the United States extradition request will be withdrawn following sentencing. Following the legal resolution, Assange plans to return to Australia, his country of citizenship.
Throughout his tenure, Assange gained international prominence for his role in WikiLeaks, notably hosting the controversial program "The World Tomorrow" on RT in 2012. The series featured discussions with prominent figures such as Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, former Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzam Begg, and former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, addressing a range of contentious global issues.
Assange's release marks a significant development in a protracted legal saga that has drawn widespread attention to issues of press freedom, government transparency, and the rights of whistleblowers. As he prepares to return to Australia, the resolution of Assange's case continues to fuel debates about the boundaries of journalistic practices and the implications for individuals challenging state secrecy in the digital age.
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