Ecuador, Sweden sign judicial deal, easing Assange interrogation
Ecuador and Sweden have inked an agreement on judicial cooperation, potentially facilitating the questioning of Julian Assange, the founder of whistleblower website WikiLeaks.
Assange has sought refuge at the Ecuadorian embassy in London since June 2012.
In a statement, the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry announced the signing of the deal on legal assistance in criminal matters.
It “is a tool that strengthens bilateral relations and facilitates, for example, the execution of such legal actions as the questioning of Mr. Assange, isolated in the Ecuadorian embassy in London,” the statement said.
The Australian activist secured political asylum from Quito after he lost a legal battle against extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning over sexual abuse allegations.
The WikiLeaks founder denies the abuse accusations, describing them as a ploy to send him to the US, where he is wanted over the release of thousands of US classified documents about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan on the whistleblower website.
Quito and Stockholm had been negotiating on the document since the summer of 2015 following a request by Swedish authorities to the Ecuadorian Prosecutor’s Office demanding access to Assange in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for questioning.
Back in July, Sweden rejected a UN appeal to guarantee that political refugees wanted for questioning would not face extradition to a third country.
Pro-Palestinian activists increasingly facing prosecution across Canada
Canada nabs three Indians over assassination of Sikh leader
Barbados officially announces recognition of Palestine as state
Police break up pro-Palestine protest at Swiss university
VIDEO | Tensions high as recession-weary Argentines march to president's residence
Forced displacement of Palestinians a 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
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
