Canberra
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed news on Thursday that the prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange might be dropped by US President Joe Biden. It was reported that Biden is considering Australia’s request to dismiss charges against Assange for releasing confidential records in 2010. Albanese expressed encouragement after Biden’s remark in Washington.
He stated that Assange has already paid a significant price and enough is enough. According to Albanese, there is nothing to be gained by Assange’s continued incarceration. Assange, an Australian citizen who founded WikiLeaks in 2006, is currently appealing his extradition from the UK to the US to face trial for the 2010 leaks. In March, the UK High Court asked the US for assurances that Assange would have a fair trial and not face the death penalty if convicted before making a final decision in May on whether he can appeal the extradition order.
In February, Albanese supported a motion raised in federal parliament by independent MP Andrew Wilkie calling for Assange’s return to Australia. Wilkie was part of a delegation of MPs who traveled to Washington in September, where they urged politicians and officials to abandon extradition efforts for Assange. On Thursday, Wilkie told ABC radio that Biden’s comment was very encouraging.
