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Julian Assange Free! Freedom Reclaimed After Five Years of Detention

Pietro Melillo : 25 June 2024 08:24

London, June 25, 2024 – Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, was released yesterday from the maximum-security Belmarsh prison after spending 1901 days in detention. The news was announced by WikiLeaks on the social media platform X, confirming that Assange has accepted a deal with the U.S. justice system to plead guilty to a minor offense related to the publication of top-secret documents, thus avoiding extradition and allowing him to return to Australia.

Assange’s release was made possible by a decision from the High Court in London, which granted him bail. Yesterday afternoon, Assange was released at Stansted Airport, from where he boarded a plane and left the United Kingdom.

“This is the result of a global campaign involving grassroots organizers, press freedom activists, legislators, and leaders across the political spectrum, including the United Nations,” stated WikiLeaks on X. The campaign for Assange’s release saw the participation of a vast number of supporters pushing for his release and the protection of press freedom.

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After lengthy negotiations with the U.S. Department of Justice, a preliminary agreement was reached that allowed Assange’s legal situation to be resolved. The agreement, yet to be fully formalized, stipulates that Assange pleads guilty to a minor offense, thus avoiding a potential sentence of up to 175 years in prison.

Assange’s detention was marked by extremely harsh conditions. He spent more than five years in a 2×3 meter cell, in isolation for 23 hours a day. His health and psychological well-being were major concerns for his supporters and various international organizations.

WikiLeaks emphasized that Assange will soon be reunited with his wife Stella and their children. “After more than five years, he will finally be able to embrace his family, who have only known their father behind bars,” added the organization.

Julian Assange’s release marks an important chapter in the long legal and political battle that has seen him at the center. His case has sparked global debates on press freedom, government transparency, and human rights, issues that will continue to be discussed in the years to come.

Assange has been at the center of international controversy since the founding of WikiLeaks in 2006. The organization has published a series of confidential documents that have embarrassed various governments and institutions. Among the most explosive revelations are the Afghanistan and Iraq war diaries, and the U.S. diplomatic cables, which exposed American foreign policy and provoked reactions worldwide.

Assange’s figure has polarized public opinion. His supporters see him as a hero of freedom of information and a defender of transparency, while his detractors accuse him of endangering lives and national security. His prolonged detention at Belmarsh has attracted criticism from human rights groups, who have denounced the prison conditions as inhumane.

The agreement with the U.S. justice system represents a controversial but necessary compromise for Assange and his supporters. Many see this solution as a step towards closing a legal saga that has had a significant impact on investigative journalism and the protection of sources.

Assange’s return to Australia marks the beginning of a new chapter in his life. It remains to be seen what his future role in WikiLeaks will be and whether he will continue to be an influential voice in the realm of press freedom. One thing is certain: his story has already left an indelible mark on the modern history of freedom of information.

Pietro Melillo
Head of the Dark Lab group. A Computer Engineer specialised in Cyber Security with a deep passion for Hacking and technology, currently CISO of WURTH Italia, he was responsible for Cyber Threat Intelligence & Dark Web analysis services at IBM, carries out research and teaching activities on Cyber Threat Intelligence topics at the University of Sannio, as a Ph.D, author of scientific papers and development of tools to support cybersecurity activities. Leads the CTI Team "RHC DarkLab"