Andre Yoskowitz
16 Aug 2012 14:29
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has been granted asylum in Ecuador, just 60 days after he began fighting extradition from London by seeking refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy.
Foreign Secretary William Hague stated the UK would not grant Assange safe passage out of the country.
Assange was set to be extradited to Sweden, where he faces charges of rape. Assange denies the claims, saying the sexual 'assault' was consensual and the charges are politically motivated.
Added Assange: "It was not Britain or my home country, Australia, that stood up to protect me from persecution, but a courageous, independent Latin American nation. While today is a historic victory, our struggles have just begun. The unprecedented US investigation against Wikileaks must be stopped."
Asylum does not offer Assange immunity from prosecution while he is outside of Ecuador, so he now must safely get into the country. Embassy vehicles are protected against police searches but that will require Assange to safely get in an embassy car and not leave it for an extended period.
The UK had threatened to lift the embassy's diplomatic status, which would have allowed police to enter the premises. Ecuador angrily called the move 'blackmail.'