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Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, has been released from a British prison. He is now headed back to Australia after resolving a 12-year legal dispute with the United States. During this period, the 52-year-old spent five years in a secure UK prison and almost seven years seeking asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London to avoid potential lifelong imprisonment.
Recently, Assange agreed to plead guilty to a serious offense related to the release of 500,000 classified US military documents. This agreement brings his legal battle to a close, ensuring he avoids imprisonment in the US and allowing him to return to Australia following a court appearance in a remote US Pacific territory.
Accompanied by Australia’s ambassador to the UK, Stephen Smith, Assange departed from London’s Stansted airport. The US Justice Department has proposed a 62-month sentence, equivalent to Assange’s time in UK detention, pending judicial approval.
Assange established WikiLeaks in Townsville, Queensland in 2006 and gained global attention in 2010 for publishing classified US military information concerning Iraq and Afghanistan. His arrest in 2019, subsequent to being evicted from the Ecuadorian embassy, triggered worldwide discussions on press freedom and human rights.
Following his release from custody, Assange’s family and supporters expressed relief, while Australian officials are actively advocating for his repatriation.
