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The judges announced the conditions for the extradition of the founder of WikiLeaks.
In the case of the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States, a new denouement has come. The High Court of England and Wales temporarily suspended the process of his extradition to the US authorities, reports Reuters. The judges ruled that the United States should provide guarantees not to apply the death penalty to Assange. Otherwise, on April 16, he will be allowed to file a full appeal on the issue of extradition.
The US Attorney's Office has been seeking the extradition of the 52-year-old Australian for trial on 18 counts under the Espionage Act for several years. After Britain gave the go-ahead for his extradition last year, Assange's lawyers made a last-ditch attempt to challenge the decision in English courts.
The court's decision states that "Assange will not be extradited immediately." The WikiLeaks founder can appeal the UK's decision to extradite him in 2022, if Washington does not provide "satisfactory guarantees" to the court within three weeks that Assange has the right to invoke the First Amendment to the US Constitution (protects freedom of speech), that in an American court he will be entitled to the same protection as both US citizens and he will not be sentenced to death.
As proof of the latter thesis, the words of former President Donald Trump were cited. In 2010, commenting on WikiLeaks publications, he stated: "I believe that this should be followed by the death penalty or something similar."
If the US government does not provide such guarantees, then Assange will have the right to challenge the decision of the head of the British Interior Ministry on his extradition and the court will again consider the arguments of his defense, insisting that if extradited to the US, his life and health will be in danger.
At the same time, the judges rejected two other arguments of Assange's defense - about the alleged political motivation of the case and the impossibility of a fair trial of Assange in the United States. It also rejected the claim that US intelligence agencies planned to kidnap or kill him.
A further hearing is scheduled for May 20. In the event of a final refusal, Assange's last resort will be an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights to block his extradition to the United States. He has already spent more than 13 years in British prisons and the Ecuadorian Embassy, and according to relatives, his physical and mental health is rapidly deteriorating.
Earlier, the US Department of Justice considered offering WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange a deal with the investigation, which would allow him to be released in exchange for a "guilty plea."
In the case of the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States, a new denouement has come. The High Court of England and Wales temporarily suspended the process of his extradition to the US authorities, reports Reuters. The judges ruled that the United States should provide guarantees not to apply the death penalty to Assange. Otherwise, on April 16, he will be allowed to file a full appeal on the issue of extradition.
The US Attorney's Office has been seeking the extradition of the 52-year-old Australian for trial on 18 counts under the Espionage Act for several years. After Britain gave the go-ahead for his extradition last year, Assange's lawyers made a last-ditch attempt to challenge the decision in English courts.
The court's decision states that "Assange will not be extradited immediately." The WikiLeaks founder can appeal the UK's decision to extradite him in 2022, if Washington does not provide "satisfactory guarantees" to the court within three weeks that Assange has the right to invoke the First Amendment to the US Constitution (protects freedom of speech), that in an American court he will be entitled to the same protection as both US citizens and he will not be sentenced to death.
As proof of the latter thesis, the words of former President Donald Trump were cited. In 2010, commenting on WikiLeaks publications, he stated: "I believe that this should be followed by the death penalty or something similar."
If the US government does not provide such guarantees, then Assange will have the right to challenge the decision of the head of the British Interior Ministry on his extradition and the court will again consider the arguments of his defense, insisting that if extradited to the US, his life and health will be in danger.
At the same time, the judges rejected two other arguments of Assange's defense - about the alleged political motivation of the case and the impossibility of a fair trial of Assange in the United States. It also rejected the claim that US intelligence agencies planned to kidnap or kill him.
A further hearing is scheduled for May 20. In the event of a final refusal, Assange's last resort will be an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights to block his extradition to the United States. He has already spent more than 13 years in British prisons and the Ecuadorian Embassy, and according to relatives, his physical and mental health is rapidly deteriorating.
Earlier, the US Department of Justice considered offering WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange a deal with the investigation, which would allow him to be released in exchange for a "guilty plea."
