JULIAN ASSANGE’S LIFE IS IN ‘HANDS OF AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT,’ SAYS WIFE

Mon 22 May 2023:

Julian Assange’s wife has declared that his life is “in the hands of the Australian government” and has urged for his release., Anadolu Agency reported.

Stella Assange, who is also a member of her husband’s legal team, claimed that Assange’s release from prison has never been closer, pushing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to “make it happen,” according to Australia’s SBS News on Monday.

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“It is important to recognize that Australia plays an important role and can secure Julian’s release,” Assange told the National Press Club.

“Julian’s life is in the hands of the Australian government. It is not my place to tell the government how to do it, but it must be done. Julian has to be released,” she went on to say.

Her remarks come just weeks after Albanese stated there was “nothing to be served” by keeping Assange imprisoned, a remark he echoed on Monday, according to the SBS.

In April, Stephen Smith, Australia’s new high commissioner to the United Kingdom, paid a visit to Assange at London’s maximum-security Belmarsh Prison.

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Assange, an Australian citizen, is being held in the UK, where authorities authorized his extradition to the U.S. last year. He is wanted for his alleged role in espionage and the dissemination of classified U.S. military information.

The U.S. Justice Department labeled Assange’s actions as part of the “largest compromises of classified information in the history of the United States.”

In November of last year, major global media outlets joined forces to call on the U.S. to drop charges against the founder of WikiLeaks and to halt his prosecution in order to protect journalism.

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He has been on remand at Belmarsh Prison for almost four years after spending seven years in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he sought diplomatic shelter from Swedish authorities.

Stella and Assange have two children, born in 2017 and 2019.

The Australian government has indicated support for Assange’s return to Australia, but has stated that Canberra is unable to meddle in the legal proceedings of another country.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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