Julian Assange, the co-founder of WikiLeaks, has been released from Belmarsh Prison in London after five years of detention.
WikiLeaks announced his release on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, stating, “Julian Assange is free. He left Belmarsh maximum security prison on the morning of 24 June, after having spent 1,901 days there.” The statement also mentioned that Assange was granted bail by the High Court in London and left the UK via Stansted airport to return to Australia.
Assange’s release marks a significant moment in his protracted legal battle against extradition to the United States, where he faces charges related to the publication of classified information. His team expressed gratitude to supporters, saying, “We thank all who stood by us, fought for us, and remained utterly committed in the fight for his freedom.”
Assange’s detention at Belmarsh began in 2019 after being forcibly removed from the Ecuadorian Embassy, where he had sought asylum since 2012.
