Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has been in prison in Great Britain for exactly five years (see video above). The US government wants to try him on espionage charges. But President Joe Biden has now made people sit up and signal that they are considering dropping criminal proceedings against Assange.
The Australian government had previously made such a request. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had already expressed his concerns about his compatriot Assange during a state visit to the US last October. “Mr. Assange has already paid a significant price – and enough is enough.” Biden’s statement that criminal proceedings could be halted was “encouraging.” The founder of Wikileaks himself also spoke of a ‘ray of hope’ and a ‘positive step’.
The US government accuses the 52-year-old of stealing and publishing classified material from military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, along with Chelsea Manning, endangering the lives of informants. Assange was arrested exactly five years ago, on April 11, 2019. He had previously taken refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for seven years.
“He is not feeling well”
The Australian faces up to 175 years in prison in the US. According to the head of the Wikileaks disclosure platform, Kristinn Hrafnssson, Assange suffered physically and mentally. “He is not feeling well. What keeps him alive is his family and the enormous support from outside. No one would be in a good place after being in prison for five years, with this very uncertain future and constant anger.”
The charges against Assange were filed under former President Donald Trump, so he is said to be fearful of his re-election.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
