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UK will contest UN opinion on 'arbitrary detention' of Julian Assange

Saturday, February 6th 2016 - 05:36 UTC
Full article 64 comments
“We completely reject any claim that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention. The UK will formally contest the working group’s opinion”. “We completely reject any claim that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention. The UK will formally contest the working group’s opinion”.
“We are deeply frustrated that this unacceptable situation is still being allowed to continue. Ecuador must engage with Sweden in good faith to bring it to an end” “We are deeply frustrated that this unacceptable situation is still being allowed to continue. Ecuador must engage with Sweden in good faith to bring it to an end”
“The statement from the Working Group has no formal impact on the ongoing investigation, according to Swedish law,” the Prosecution Authority said “The statement from the Working Group has no formal impact on the ongoing investigation, according to Swedish law,” the Prosecution Authority said

The United Kingdom will formally contest the opinion of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention. From Stockholm Swedish prosecution said the UN ruling had no formal impact into an ongoing rape investigation against the WikiLeak's founder.

A government spokesperson said: “This changes nothing. We completely reject any claim that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention. The UK has already made clear to the UN that we will formally contest the working group’s opinion.

”Julian Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the UK. The opinion of the UN Working Group ignores the facts and the well-recognised protections of the British legal system. He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy. An allegation of rape is still outstanding and a European Arrest Warrant in place, so the UK continues to have a legal obligation to extradite him to Sweden. As the UK is not a party to the Caracas Convention, we do not recognise ‘diplomatic asylum’.

“We are deeply frustrated that this unacceptable situation is still being allowed to continue. Ecuador must engage with Sweden in good faith to bring it to an end. Americas Minister Hugo Swire made this clear to the Ecuadorean Ambassador in November, and we continue to raise the matter in Quito”.

From Stockholm, Swedish prosecutors said a UN ruling which said Julian Assange had been 'arbitrarily detained' in Ecuador's embassy in London had no formal impact into an ongoing rape investigation against the WikiLeak's founder.

“The statement from the Working Group has no formal impact on the ongoing investigation, according to Swedish law,” the Prosecution Authority said in a statement.

“The prosecutor responsible for the case is on a journey and has not yet been able to take a position on the latest development.”
 

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  • gordo1

    He walked into the Ecuadorian Embassy in London VOLUNTARILY as he is a suspected rapist and is scared of facing the Swedish justice system.

    I agree 100% with the statements of the British and Swedish governments.

    This man is a weasel.

    Feb 06th, 2016 - 07:04 am 0
  • CapiTrollism_is_back!!

    What? The UK ignoring a UN resolution?

    Anyone shocked by yet another act of roguery?

    Feb 06th, 2016 - 07:29 am 0
  • Skip

    An opinion/ruling that means nothing.

    You should read some of the criticisms of it. They're comical. My favourite:

    'Entirely within the power of Ecuador to “free” him.
    Mr Assange, this way, the door.'

    Feb 06th, 2016 - 07:30 am 0
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