The Associated Press reports that Ecuador has granted citizenship to Julian Assange. The Wikileaks founder has been living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012, when he was faced with extradition to Sweden for allegedly sexually assaulting two women. The New York Times also reports that Ecuador has sought to give Assange diplomatic status, but Britain has rejected the request. Diplomatic immunity would allow him to leave the embassy without the possibility of being arrested for jumping bail in 2012.
Ecuador grants Julian Assange citizenship
Houseguest overstays his welcome
Houseguest overstays his welcome
Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images
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Swedish prosecutors discontinued their sexual assault investigation last year, citing their inability to look into the case so long as he remains cloistered inside the embassy. However, prosecutor Marianne Ny stated that she would “resume the investigation immediately” if Assange chose to “make himself available” at some future date.
Assange’s supporters have called his two alleged victims “honeypots,” attributing the claims to a nation-state conspiracy striking back at a man who rose to global prominence after publishing classified United States diplomatic cables in 2010.
After five years of residency, the Ecuadorian government is actively working towards finding a way for Assange to finally vacate the building, although that cannot happen without the UK’s cooperation.
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