Julian Assange should be allowed to go free, UN panel finds
- 8 years ago
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange should be allowed to walk free and be compensated for his "deprivation of liberty", a UN legal panel has found.
Mr Assange, 44, - who faces extradition to Sweden over a rape claim, which he denies - claimed asylum in London's Ecuadorean embassy in 2012.
He has been arbitrarily detained since his arrest in 2010, the panel said.
The UK foreign secretary said the decision was "ridiculous", but Mr Assange hailed a "significant victory".
Speaking at a news conference via a video link from the embassy, he said the opinion of the panel was "vindication", adding: "The lawfulness of my detention is now a matter of settled law."
Mr Assange, 44, - who faces extradition to Sweden over a rape claim, which he denies - claimed asylum in London's Ecuadorean embassy in 2012.
He has been arbitrarily detained since his arrest in 2010, the panel said.
The UK foreign secretary said the decision was "ridiculous", but Mr Assange hailed a "significant victory".
Speaking at a news conference via a video link from the embassy, he said the opinion of the panel was "vindication", adding: "The lawfulness of my detention is now a matter of settled law."