Julian Assange is released from prison in the UK after reaching a deal with the US

Julian AssangeThe founder of WikiLeaks has pleaded guilty to charges of illegally disseminating national security material in exchange for a deal with the United States and his release from prison in the United Kingdom after more than five years in prison.

Assange will be arraigned this Tuesday (25/6) in the Northern Mariana Islands at 8pm. Under the deal with the US, he is expected to serve 62 months in prison, time he has already served while in the UK.

oh WikiLeaks posted on social media Assange has already left prison and is following the path of the plane carrying the journalist. WikiLeaks commented on Assange’s release: “This is the result of a global campaign involving grassroots work, press freedom advocates, policymakers and leaders across the political spectrum, all the way to the United Nations. Thank you to all those who stood by our side, fought for us and were fully involved in the freedom struggle. Julian’s freedom is our freedom.”

Julian Assange founded WikiLeaks in 2006. Beginning in 2010, an Australian journalist began publishing thousands of documents containing classified information about the US government. The released documents also include US action in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the airstrike on Baghdad (Iraq) and alleged abuses by US armed forces, as well as other diplomatic and operational information. The documents also mention cases of industrial and political espionage by the US against other countries.

In 2019, Assange was arrested in London at the high-security Belmarsh prison after a seven-year stay at the Ecuadorian embassy. The journalist was charged with multiple crimes, including disclosing classified information and espionage, and could face up to 170 years in prison if convicted. The deal that has now been reached with the United States will end a legal battle between the journalist and the North American country that has been going on for more than five years.