Julian Assange Says He's Suing Ecuador for 'Violating His Fundamental Rights'
Julian Assange announced on Friday that he was suing the Ecuadorean government for "violating his fundamental rights," claiming that his longtime hosts at the country's embassy in London are limiting his contact with the outside world and censoring his speech.
His legal team in the matter, led by the former Spanish judge Baltasar Garzón, revealed the suit at a news conference in Quito, where the lawsuit was filed. The action aims to prevent strict new rules governing Mr. Assange's visitors and online activity from taking effect.
The policies were laid out in a nine-page memo that was published by a news site this month. (They include directives to clean his bathroom and look after his cat.)
Clean up your room and brush your teeth before you go to bed.
Also at Reuters, CNN, and USA Today.
Previously: Julian Assange has His Internet Access Cut Off by Ecuador
Ecuador Spent $5 Million Protecting and Spying on Julian Assange
Ecuador Reportedly Almost Ready to Hand Julian Assange Over to UK Authorities
Associated Press Publishes Supposedly Leaked WikiLeaks Documents
The Guardian: Russian Diplomats Planned to Sneak Julian Assange Out of the UK
(Score: 1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 21 2018, @06:49PM (2 children)
What a bunch of garbage. Assangel is free to leave the embassy whenever he wants. The fact that he skipped bail in the UK is his doing, and if he doesn't want to be held accountable for that he needs to find a way to get out of the UK without stepping foot on their soil. Maybe the Ecuadorians can get him over to the Saudi embassy. They seem to be able to help people vanish.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 21 2018, @08:16PM (1 child)
I don't think it is fear of punishment from the UK that is preventing him from leaving the embassy. It is extradition to the U.S., which the U.K. will roll over and allow to happen, that frightens him. Why don't you speak to that?
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 21 2018, @09:13PM
I don't think that is unreasonable, but Assange's fear of being grabbed by the UK is what could possibly get him sent to the US. If he hadn't skipped bail the UK would not be sitting outside the embassy eating donuts and drinking coffee.
Also, keep in mind that the current occupant of the White House does not want Assange questioned by US law enforcement. If Assange spills the beans on Stone and the Trump campaign - and Assange will sing like a bird because he has no loyalty to anyone other than to himself - it won't look good.
Assangel's best chance is to avoid the US is to start acting like a grateful guest of the Ecuadorian embassy. But his sense of entitlement prevents him from doing that.