Julian Assange in 2017
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen on the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, Britain May 19, 2017. (Photo: REUTERS/Peter Nicholls/File Photo)

In a dramatic conclusion to a 12-year legal battle, Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, has returned to Australia as a free man. Assange's unexpected release follows a plea deal with U.S. authorities, marking the first time he has been free in over a decade.

As Assange disembarked at Canberra Airport, cheers erupted from supporters who had gathered to welcome him. He waved to the crowd before being embraced by his wife, Stella, who joined him on the tarmac. "Julian wanted me to sincerely thank everyone. He wanted to be here. But you have to understand what he's been through. He needs time, he needs to recuperate, and this is a process," she said at a press conference, visibly emotional.

Assange's journey to freedom began earlier on Wednesday when he walked out of a courtroom in Saipan, the largest island of the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. Pacific territory. He had just finalized an agreement with the U.S. government, pleading guilty to conspiring unlawfully to obtain and disseminate classified information. This plea brought an end to his lengthy incarceration, initially in London's high-security Belmarsh Prison and subsequently in various detention facilities.

His U.S. lawyer, Barry Pollack, remarked on the unprecedented nature of Assange's prosecution under the Espionage Act. "Mr. Assange revealed truthful, newsworthy information... We firmly believe that Mr. Assange never should have been charged under the Espionage Act," Pollack stated.

 

Assange's release from Belmarsh Prison on Monday was kept secret until he had safely departed the UK. He appeared in a U.S. federal court in Saipan to formalize his plea deal, admitting to the charges in exchange for time served. The court session was brief, with Judge Ramona Manglona acknowledging Assange's time already spent in detention as adequate punishment.

Assange's release marks the end of a long and complex legal saga. He first rose to global prominence in 2010 when WikiLeaks published a series of leaks provided by former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning. These leaks included a video showing a U.S. military helicopter attack in Baghdad that killed two Reuters journalists and several Iraqi civilians. The publication of over 90,000 classified Afghan war documents followed, further cementing WikiLeaks' reputation and igniting fierce debates about government transparency and national security.

The controversy surrounding Assange intensified in 2012 when he sought asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London to avoid extradition to Sweden over allegations of sexual assault. He remained there for nearly seven years until 2019 when he was arrested by the Metropolitan Police acting on a U.S. extradition warrant.

Kevin Rudd, Australia's Ambassador to Washington and former prime minister, played a significant role in facilitating the negotiations leading to Assange's release. Watching the proceedings in Saipan, Rudd later expressed his satisfaction with the outcome. "This is what standing up for Australians around the world looks like," he said.

Assange's homecoming has been met with mixed reactions. While supporters celebrate his release, the U.S. Department of Justice reiterated that Assange is barred from returning to the U.S. without permission, a stipulation of his plea agreement. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson emphasized that the decision to allow Assange's return to Australia was made independently by the Department of Justice, without White House involvement.

The Australian government has been advocating for Assange's release for years. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his pleasure at Assange's return, stating in Parliament, "This outcome has been the product of careful, patient and determined work."

Now back in Australia, Assange faces the challenge of rebuilding his life. His supporters have launched an appeal to cover the $520,000 cost of his charter flight and to fund his recovery. The campaign highlights the significant financial and emotional toll of his lengthy legal ordeal.