Assange has fought extradition from the UK for more than a decade, after the WikiLeaks platform published thousands of classified US documents in 2010 and 2011. Assange, who is currently in Belmarsh maximum security prison, will now have a certain number of months to prepare his appeal. The WikiLeaks founder’s defense disputes that US courts can guarantee him a fair trial and protect his freedom of speech, as his revelations have exposed war crimes committed by the US government. On the other hand, American prosecutors say the revelations have put lives in danger.
Assange’s supporters cheered as news of the decision filtered out of the courtroom.
Assange was not in court for health reasons, his legal team said, but among those present were his wife Stella and his father John Shipton.
Kristinn Hrafnsson, editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks, said after the ruling that there was “finally a glimmer of hope” for Assange and that it would be up to his lawyers to decide whether they also wanted to push for his release on bail.
Under agreement, WikiLeaks founder is expected to plead guilty to a reduced charge of mishandling classified information, a step that could be made by Assange without setting foot in the United States, a country where he is currently accused under the Espionage Act on the basis of 18 charges and where, according to his lawyers, he risks dozens and dozens of years in prison . The time he spent behind bars in London – five years – would also count towards any conviction in the United States, and he would therefore be free to leave prison without fear of being arrested again.
