Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has expressed his approval of the news that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is set to be released by US authorities. On Tuesday, Assange, 52, agreed to plead guilty to US espionage charges, a deal that concluded his imprisonment in the United Kingdom. This agreement permits him to return to Australia, pending court proceedings in Saipan on Wednesday, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Prime Minister’s Statement
In parliament, Albanese welcomed the development but noted the ongoing legal proceedings’ critical and delicate nature. He stated:
“While this is a welcome development, we recognise these proceedings are crucial and delicate. We have engaged and advocated Australia’s interest using all appropriate channels to support a positive outcome, and I have done that since very early on in my prime ministership.”
He emphasized that the prolonged US case against Assange had reached a point where continued incarceration was unjustifiable.
Diplomatic Efforts
Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong informed the Senate that since assuming office in 2022, Albanese had raised Assange’s case with US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. She highlighted that the Australian government had provided consular support to Assange and his family during his time in UK imprisonment.
In April, President Biden mentioned he was considering Australia’s request to drop the prosecution of Assange, linked to WikiLeaks’ 2010 release of classified military records and diplomatic cables related to the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.
Conclusion
This development marks a significant step in the Assange case, with the Australian government continuing its support through the remaining legal processes.