All‑Clear for WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange? Ecuador Says “You’re Free to Go”
President Lenin Moreno crackled the news on Thursday that the gray‑market of immunity is finally over for Julian Assange, the 47‑year‑old Australian who sat in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for six years, waiting for the British police to catch up.
What’s the Deal?
Moreno told reporters the hand‑shake is complete: “The way has been cleared for Mr Assange to take the decision to leave in near‑liberty.” He added that there still remains a fine‑print issue – Assange must answer to Britain for breaking the terms of his bail.
But, according to Ecuador, Britain has given a pledge of safety: the Aussie will not be sent to any country where his life could be at risk, especially the U.S., which has the death penalty.
Why Has the Embassy Been a Sanctuary?
Back in 2012, Assange ducked into the Ecuadorian embassy in London to dodge a potential extradition to Sweden over two alleged sexual‑assault cases. Sweden later dropped the charges, and Ecuador says there are no pending extradition requests.
Until now, he was on the island of “no‑go,” waiting for his chances to walk out. The government was desperately looking for an exit strategy, particularly after his 2012 “internet‑access restriction lawsuit” against Quito.
U.S. – The Big Pot
Rumors swirl that Washington is eyeing Assange, especially after a sealed indictment was leaked by WikiLeaks. The indictment could tilt the scales in favour of extradition if he steps out of the embassy.
Some experts point to the Mueller investigation — years of digging into Russian meddling in the 2016 election — as a possible reason behind the U.S.’ renewed interest in Assange. WikiLeaks’ alleged leaks of thousands of emails from the Democratic campaign might hint at deeper conspiracies.
Rumors & Reality
Meanwhile, “The Guardian” reported that former Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort had a clandestine chat with Assange, an organization accused of leaking vast amounts of stolen Democratic emails. In July, Mueller accused 12 Russian spies of hacking the Democratic National Committee’s computers.
So what does this mean for our beloved WikiLeaks founder? In short: He can leave, but he must still answer his bail ‒ and he must be assured that he’s not being sent to a place where his life could be jeopardized.
The Verdict
Jordan’s lawyer, Carlos Poveda, said last month that Assange is ready to surrender to British police “if he receives assurances he will not be extradited.” Speaking at that time, Ecuador’s foreign minister Jose Valencia shrugged, “We do not see the British changing their point of view; they insist he appears in court.”
Moreno’s tone? He said the big “no‑fence” set by Britain was there, but stressed that Ecuador has no pending extradition cases alive. The final story? It’s as suspenseful as ever, but the day of the exit might be closer than we think.
