UK told Swedes not to interview Assange in London
Recently revealed documents have shown that Britain was hindering efforts by Swedish authorities to question Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange in the Ecuadorian embassy where he has secured political asylum for the last three years.
According to emails obtained by the Italian news magazine L’Espresso under the Freedom of Information Act, Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service told the Swedish authorities in 2011 that it would “not be prudent” for them to interview Assange in the UK.
A separate email, dated January 25, 2011, was also released saying, “Any attempt to interview him under strict Swedish law would invariably be fraught with problems.” Another email dated January 13, 2011 said, “Please do not think that the case is being dealt with as just another extradition request.”
Assange has been in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012 and has secured political asylum from the South American country after he lost a legal battle against extradition to Sweden where he faces allegations of sexual assault, which he denies.
It is believed that Assange’s extradition is a cover for sending him to the US, where he is wanted over the release of thousands of classified US documents on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan on his whistleblower website.
During an interview with The Guardian published on Monday, Assange said, “This is astonishing. I have been on the phone with my lawyers all morning and they are as shocked as I am.”
A police siege on the embassy, where Assange currently lives in a small room, was recently halted but not before it cost British taxpayers over $15.5 million.
In August, the Hazel Press news organization revealed, via a Freedom of Information Act request, that since 2010, Sweden had granted 44 requests to interview witnesses or suspects in the UK. A figure which according to Assange’s supporters proves he is being singled out. Assange has offered to be interviewed by Swedish authorities inside the embassy in London, but all attempts to set up a meeting have so far run aground.
Back in August, three of the four cases against him expired after reaching Sweden’s five-year legal expiry date, but the remaining allegation will expire in 2020.
Asylum seekers in UK ‘hide or flee to Ireland’ amid Rwanda fears
UK's opposition Labour inflicts heavy losses on Tories in local elections
UK students occupy campuses in protest at Israeli war on Gaza
Israel’s failure to meet its obligations may amount to war crime: UN rights office
Congresswoman Tlaib urges ICC to issue Netanyahu arrest warrant over Gaza genocide
Pakistan rejects foreign dictation on Iran gas project: FM
Netanyahu confronting not only Palestinians but entire world by Rafah invasion: Official
VIDEO | French university students set up tents, protest against Israel's attack on Rafah
UN chief urges Israel to halt escalation, engage in ceasefire talks
Hamas warns Israel’s invasion of Rafah pushing region toward disaster
Putin sworn in for 5th term as Russia’s president, begins 6-year tenure
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
