Julian Assange freed from prison, flown out of UK

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been released from prison and flown out of the UK under a plea deal with American authorities, marking the end of his decade-long battle against extradition to the United States on espionage charges.

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The 52-year-old Australian, previously held at Belmarsh high-security prison in London since 2019, was taken into custody from the Ecuadorian Embassy where he had sought asylum.

Assange’s release was announced overnight on Monday. He will return to Australia, confirmed by UK media reports citing a letter from the US Justice Department. Assange faced charges of conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence information. In exchange for pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy, Assange will be sentenced to time served, totalling 62 months, which includes his time in a British prison.

Following formal acceptance of his plea by a judge, Assange will be free to return to Australia, where his wife and children have already flown. WikiLeaks announced his departure from Belmarsh after being granted bail by the High Court, and he was seen at Stansted Airport boarding a plane out of the UK.

“After more than five years in a 2x3 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 stated.

Stella Assange shared a video montage of her husband in a car and boarding a plane on social media, expressing profound gratitude to supporters: “Julian is free!!!! Words cannot express our immense gratitude to YOU - yes YOU, who have all mobilized for years and years to make this come true. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,” she said.