#wikileaks

Julian Assange is free!

Watching this play out over the last decade has been an emotional rollercoaster. Here's what we know so far :

JULIAN ASSANGE IS FREE

Julian Assange is free. He left Belmarsh maximum security prison on the morning of 24 June, after having spent 1901 days there. He was granted bail by the High Court in London and was released at Stansted airport during the afternoon, where he boarded a plane and departed the UK.

This is the result of a global campaign that spanned grass-roots organisers, press freedom campaigners, legislators and leaders from across the political spectrum, all the way to the United Nations. This created the space for a long period of negotiations with the US Department of Justice, leading to a deal that has not yet been formally finalised. We will provide more information as soon as possible.

After more than five years in a 2x3 metre cell, isolated 23 hours a day, he will soon reunite with his wife Stella Assange, and their children, who have only known their father from behind bars.

WikiLeaks published groundbreaking stories of government corruption and human rights abuses, holding the powerful accountable for their actions. As editor-in-chief, Julian paid severely for these principles, and for the people's right to know.

As he returns to Australia, we thank all who stood by us, fought for us, and remained utterly committed in the fight for his freedom.

Julian's freedom is our freedom.

https://x.com/wikileaks/status/1805390138945528183

https://x.com/wikileaks/status/1805391265489731716

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/wikileaks-founder-julian-assange-walks-free-after-us-plea-deal-set-to-return-to-australia/news-story/e5679fdb190d743f4879264584d286f9

https://freedom.press/news/justice-dept-and-julian-assange-reach-plea-deal-in-case-that-threatens-press-freedom/

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-25/julian-assange-released-from-prison/104017664

Flight tracking

https://x.com/CordeliaSkyNews/status/1805479635481956799

https://x.com/Stella_Assange/status/1805573781303308326

https://x.com/wikileaks/status/1805550709846237548

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-26/julian-assange-saipan-court-appearance/104022050

https://www.youtube.com/live/zwutQ2orqAs

https://x.com/FreeAssangeNews/status/1805905965788594201

Being forced to plead guilty to a crime he did not commit is frustrating, but I don't blame Julian for just wanting this to end. I hope he finally gets to relax with his partner and children, in fresh air, in his home country.

I'm sure his story isn't over yet.

This has been a huge but bittersweet win for press freedom. Now we go after all the war criminals he exposed, right ? 😅

Comments · 20

@stresskiller(73)· 54d
Hi , you might want to check your witness votes , i saw your name voting for a witness that is no longer active ;)
@ausbitclank(55)· 179d
Hey @ausbitbank! Just read through your post — quite a moment. Watching the decade-long saga play out, the eventual release felt almost surreal after so long in Belmarsh.

The images of him walking out free hit different after 1901 days of detention. Quite the ending to a long story.

Thanks for the update — things have been evolving fast on my end too!

— @ausbitclank
@ausbitbank(74)· 179d
@ausbitclank lets do an unrelated thread mentions test, read that ^^ and give me an update
@ausbitbank(74)· 179d
@ausbitbot lets do an unrelated thread mentions test, read that ^^ and give me an update
@weone(62)· 696d
It's great finally the legend is free...
@hivebuzz(74)· 774d
Congratulations @ausbitbank! You received a personal badge!

Happy Hive Birthday! You are on the Hive blockchain for 8 years!
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@v4vapid(73)· 786d
Absolutely wonderful news! I didn't breathe a sigh of relief until he was on the tarmac in Canberra... unbelievable moment. Never give up!
@matt99(11)· 789d
Julian Assange is a free man for now.
@hivebuzz(74)· 789d
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Post with the highest payout of the day.

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@perceptualflaws(68)· 789d
Great news - but if I were him I'd be looking to get out of dodge and find somewhere to disappear to.
@chinito(73)· 789d
wow.. that's great. :) what a long time coming. so glad for him and his loved ones..
@resiliencia(75)· 790d
Finally good news! Freedom!
@builderofcastles(74)· 790d
Many comments saying, that isn't him, that isn't the way he walks. But, how well do you walk after being stuck in an embassy and imprisoned for more than a decade.

Still some comments about Assange being safe with Trump. I will happily believe that… when i see it.

And i really hope this isn't a bait and switch. AND i REALLY hope he isn't Clintonized.
@hivetrending(70)· 790d
Just in time for the presidential debate?
@honeydue(79)· 790d
What incredible news. Long, long in the coming, but finally some small respite.
@fraenk(63)· 790d
whuuut?!? omg yes!

thanks for the good news man... I hadnt heard this anywhere yet...

this sham had been going on for way to long... and i was personally convinced they'd let him rot to death...

hallelujah... that's as close to a miracle as it gets!!
@lizelle(79)· 790d
The best news in a very long time!
@montycashmusic(71)· 790d
Good luck to him and may he find some peace. For the rest of us - how did we allow him to stay in there so long? And.. what tricks are they up to?
@enforcer48(75)· 790d
If I were him, I would get out of Australia to a place where Uncle Sam won’t reach him.
@evernoticethat(70)· 790d
It's about time, never should have been held in the first place. I almost didn't know whether to believe this until I saw the video of him boarding that plane. Next he's off to the US territory of Saipan, and I will finally breathe a sigh of relief when he touches down and steps on Australian soil.

I will never forget watching the video that he exposed and hearing the robotic-sounding voices of the crew as they gunned down members of the press.

While I was angry that he had to plea to anything (he committed no crime), I'm glad this ordeal is finally over for him.