Johannesburg – Julian Assange has finally been freed.
Assange left Belmarsh’s maximum security prison, southeast of London, UK, on Monday morning, (24 June 2024), after spending 1 901 days there.
WikiLeaks reports that Assange was granted bail by the High Court in London.
He was released at Stansted Airport during the afternoon, where he boarded a plane and departed the UK.
“This is the result of a global campaign that spanned grass-roots organisers, press freedom campaigners, legislators and leaders from across the political spectrum, all the way to the United Nations,” WikiLeaks said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
“This created the space for a long period of negotiations with the US Department of Justice, leading to a deal that has not yet been formally finalised.
“We will provide more information as soon as possible. After more than five years in a 2×3 metre cell, isolated 23 hours a day, he will soon reunite with his wife Stella Assange, and their children, who have only known their father from behind bars.”
WikiLeaks published groundbreaking stories of government corruption and human rights abuses, holding the powerful accountable for their actions.
“As editor-in-chief, Julian paid severely for these principles, and for the people’s right to know,” WikiLeaks said.
“As he returns to Australia, we thank all who stood by us, fought for us, and remained utterly committed in the fight for his freedom. Julian’s freedom is our freedom.”
