Julian Assange's brother revealed the WikiLeaks founder could move 'to the Australian bush' to 'rest and recover' following his release from Belmarsh prison. Gabriel Shipton says 'now is the time' for him to rest and 'have a bit of quiet life'.
Assange, 52, is currently en route to a US-controlled island for court hearing. He is expected to walk free if the judge signs off on a plea deal tomorrow Julian Assange may head for a remote family home in Australia where he will 'rest and recuperate' and lead 'an ordinary life' if he walks free following a court date with a US judge on Wednesday, family members have claimed.
If the court hearing proceeds as expected, Assange will be free to return to Australia with no restrictions after a 14-year ordeal that saw him shelter for almost a decade in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London before being incarcerated. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is pictured approaching Bangkok Airport on a private jet following his release
While he has reportedly been allowed to leave the country to go back to his native Australia, British officials have not yet confirmed his release He was dragged out of the embassy in 2019, jailed for skipping bail and has been in Belmarsh ever since, latterly fighting extradition to the United States to face 18 charges relating to the mass leak of US secret intelligence files that were published on his website, WikiLeaks.
Mr Shipton said today that it appears 'Julian will be able to enjoy an ordinary life with his family and his wife, Stella'. Assange's mother Christine Assange said: 'I am grateful that my son's ordeal is finally coming to an end. This shows the importance and power of quiet diplomacy. Many have used my son's situation to push their own agendas, so I am grateful to those unseen, hard-working people who put Julian's welfare first.'
Pressed on where that quiet life would be and where home is, he added: 'Hopefully somewhere quiet and out of the way where he can go outside and feel the sun on his face and be in the Australian bush or something like that. His supporters see Assange as a hero for press freedom and free speech who held the US government to account for abuses of power, while critics paint him as a criminal who threatened national security.
Julian Assange's brother Gabriel Shipton has revealed the WikiLeaks founder could move 'to the Australian bush' to 'rest and recover' following his release from Belmarsh prison Stella Assange, Julian Assange's brother Gabriel Shipton and WikiLeaks Editor-In-Chief Kirstinn Hrafnsson take part in a march from the Royal Courts of Justice to Downing Street, 21 Feb 2024
Asked about the conversations that led to his release, Stella said on Radio 4: 'Well, it's been so touch and go, we weren't really sure until the last 24 hours that it was actually happening. She confirmed the 'charge concerns the espionage act and obtaining and disclosing national defence information', adding: 'The important thing is the deal involves time served. If he signed it, he will be able to walk .'
'He can't walk around, he can't go to the tuck shop - he wasn't able to go to the tuck shop and buy a chocolate or anything. You see, I have to change my tenses now - it's been so long that I'm not used to talking about Julian free in the present.' Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has in recent months campaigned strongly for Assange's release.
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