Ecuador withdraws asylum for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange – president

Ecuador has withdrawn an asylum it granted to Julian Assange, the country’s president declared as the WikiLeaks founder was being evicted from Ecuadorian embassy where he was hiding for the last six years.

The Ecuadorian government has decided “to withdraw the diplomatic asylum of Julian Assange for a repeated violation of international conventions and a protocol of coexistence,” president Lenin Moreno has said in a televised speech on Thursday. 

Assange was arrested by the British police inside the Ecuadorian Embassy around the time that the statement was released. He took refuge in the London embassy seven years ago to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he was wanted in connection with sexual assault allegations that were later dropped.

Moreno has accused Assange of “violating the norm of not intervening in internal affairs of other states.” He continued: “The patience of Ecuador has reached its limits on the behavior of Mr Assange.”

The world-renowned whistleblower installed “electronic and distortion equipment” at the embassy, blocked CCTV cameras, and also “confronted and mistreated guards.” Softening his tone, the president added that he had requested the UK to guarantee that Assange will not be extradited to countries where he may face torture or the death penalty.

Blasting the decision by Moreno, Wikileaks tweeted that the arrest was “in violation of international law.”

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