Swedish court upholds warrant against Wikileaks founder

Publisher Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Publication Date 16 July 2014
Cite as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Swedish court upholds warrant against Wikileaks founder, 16 July 2014, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/54003ddf1ea.html [accessed 17 September 2023]
DisclaimerThis is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

July 16, 2014

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange speaks to the media inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London in June 2013.WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange speaks to the media inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London in June 2013.

A Swedish court has upheld an arrest warrant for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for alleged sexual assault.

Assange, 43, has been staying in the Ecuadoran Embassy in London for more than two years to avoid being arrested in England and extradited to Sweden.

Assange says he fears Sweden would extradite him to the United States.

WikiLeaks angered U.S. officials by releasing hundreds of thousands of secret government documents.

The Swedish warrant for Assange's arrest on charges of rape and sexual molestation was issued in late 2010.

He denies the charges.

Assange's attorneys said they would appeal the Swedish court's decision.

Even if Sweden drops its case against Assange, he would face arrest by British police for violating his bail conditions when he fled to the Ecuadoran Embassy.

English police have been stationed outside the embassy since he entered it.

Based on reporting by AFP and AP

Link to original story on RFE/RL website

Copyright notice: Copyright (c) 2007-2009. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036

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