RUSSIA has brazenly accused Britain of “strangling freedom” following Julian Assange’s arrest in London today. The WikiLeaks founder, 47, was dragged out of the Ecuadorian embassy in handcuffs this morning after spending 2,487 days holed up in West London since 2012. But despite killing its own people with nerve agents and poisoning political opponents, Moscow has […]
RUSSIA has brazenly accused Britain of “strangling freedom” following Julian Assange’s arrest in London today.
The WikiLeaks founder, 47, was dragged out of the Ecuadorian embassy in handcuffs this morning after spending 2,487 days holed up in West London since 2012.
But despite killing its own people with nerve agents and poisoning political opponents, Moscow has hit out at the UK following Assange arrest.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova posted on Facebook: “The hand of ‘democracy’ is squeezing the throat of freedom.”
Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: “We of course hope that all of his rights will be observed.”
As he was pulled out in handcuffs of his hiding place for the last seven years, Assange shouted: “The UK has no stability”.
Assange hasn’t left the embassy since August 2012 – costing the British taxpayer more than £10m.
He feared stepping off Ecuador’s diplomatic soil would see him arrested and extradited to the US for publishing thousands of classified military and diplomatic cables through WikiLeaks.
A Metropolitan Police statement said: “He has been taken into custody at a central London police station where he will remain, before being presented before Westminster Magistrates’ Court as soon as is possible.
“The MPS had a duty to execute the warrant, on behalf of Westminster Magistrates’ Court, and was invited into the embassy by the Ambassador, following the Ecuadorian government’s withdrawal of asylum.”
Home Secretary Sajid Javid tweeted: “Nearly 7yrs after entering the Ecuadorean Embassy, I can confirm Julian Assange is now in police custody and rightly facing justice in the UK. I would like to thank Ecuador for its cooperation & @metpoliceuk for its professionalism. No one is above the law.”
Yesterday, Fidel Narvaez, the former Consul of Ecuador to London, said: “The Ecuadorian embassy is not protecting Assange any more.
“It is doing everything possible to end the asylum.”
More to follow…
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