WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange may stay holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London after a British judge ruled Tuesday not to drop charges against him — but the hacktivist still maintains hope of walking free.
Assange, 46, has hidden out in the embassy for the last five years, avoiding extradition to Sweden on rape charges, as well as a bail-violation rap in the UK.
Sweden dropped the rape case against him, but the Brits still want to take Assange to court for breaching the conditions of his bail.
His lawyer said the bail case should be dropped now that Sweden doesn’t want to charge Assange.
“[Assange] has spent five-and-a-half years in conditions which, on any view, are akin to imprisonment, without access to adequate medical care or sunlight, in circumstances where his physical and psychological health have deteriorated and are in serious peril,” attorney Mark Summers wrote in court papers cited by the Guardian.
Assange says the court ruled on only one of four points his lawyers are making, and claimed that a victory on any one point could set him free.
“Wall to wall fake news stating stating the government won today’s hearing. Nothing of the sort has happened. The hearing is still happening. Only one point has been ruled on,” he tweeted.
“If we win any point the warrant falls,” another missive read.
With Post wires