Timed Out : Julian Assange case: Sweden to drop sex assault inquiry...But still rape allegation.

[Cidersomerset]

This won't mean Julian Assange will be free any time soon as the US are still poised
to extricate him , even if Sweden did drop the charges. Plus he would have to face
a UK charge of skipping bale.

Swedish Television: What is happening in the Assange case?

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=ARQ1PrO6K4g

Published on 10 Aug 2015

Sweden, August 3, 2015: Sveriges Television (SVT) sits down with Thomas Olsson,
attorney for Julian Assange, to discuss what is happening in the Assange case.

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Julian Assange case: Sweden to drop sex assault inquiry

By Caroline Hawley
BBC News
49 minutes ago....From the section Europe



File photo from 2014 shows Ecuador's Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino, left, and
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London

Julian Assange, pictured in 2014, has said that he will not leave the Ecuadorian
embassy in London even if the accusations are dropped Swedish prosecutors will
drop their investigation into sexual assault allegations against Julian Assange on
Thursday because of the statutes of limitation, the BBC has learned.The Wikileaks
founder still faces the more serious allegation of rape.But prosecutors have run out
of time to investigate Mr Assange for sexual assault because they have not
succeeded in questioning him.He denies all allegations and has said they are part of
a smear campaign.The Australian journalist and activist sought asylum in the
Ecuadorian embassy in London in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden.

Time limit

Under Swedish law, charges cannot be laid without interviewing the suspect.
Prosecutors had until 13 August to question Mr Assange about one accusation of
sexual molestation and one of unlawful coercion, while the time limit on a further
allegation of sexual molestation runs out on 18 August. The more serious allegation
of rape is not due to expire until 2020.An official announcement from the
prosecutor's office is expected on Thursday morning.


Supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange hold placards during a vigil across
the street from the Ecuador embassy in London, Friday 19, June 2015

Supporters of Mr Assange say there is a political campaign against him Mr Assange
has always denied all the accusations and says he fled into the Ecuadorian embassy
because he fears being extradited from Sweden to the US and put on trial for
releasing secret American documents.He has said in the past that he will not leave
the embassy, even if the accusations of sex crimes are dropped. The woman who
accused Mr Assange of sexual molestation and unlawful coercion - who is identified
in legal papers only as AA - is said to be relieved that the case is now behind
her."She had wanted him to stand before the court and answer the accusations but
it's five years ago and she's not interested in going to court now," her lawyer, Claes
Borgstrom, told the BBC. "She wants to put it all behind her. It's been a difficult
time for her and she's now trying to forget about it and move on with her life."
Swedish prosecutors had initially insisted that Mr Assange be questioned in
Sweden, but earlier this year - under pressure to advance the investigation - she
agreed that he could be interviewed in London. But the Swedish government has
been unable to negotiate access with the Ecuadorian authorities, with both sides
blaming the other for the impasse.

'Difficult and costly'

Lawyers for Mr Assange say the allegations of sexual assault should have been
dropped long ago."Our position is that the investigation should have been shut
down earlier because there wasn't enough evidence to keep it going," Thomas
Olsson, one of his Swedish lawyers, told the BBC. "It's regrettable that it's gone on
for this long."

He said he believed Mr Assange could clear his name over the rape allegation.
"We are convinced that as soon as he has the opportunity to give his version of the
circumstances, there'll be no need to continue the investigation." Sweden is
expected to continue discussions with Ecuador over the terms under which the
prosecutor could question Mr Assange over the remaining accusation.The UK
government has urged Ecuador to co-operate, stressing that the UK has a legal
obligation to extradite Mr Assange.

"We are clear that our laws must be followed and Mr Assange should be
extradited," a UK Foreign Office spokeswoman said. "As ever, we look to Ecuador to
help bring this difficult, and costly, situation to an end."The cost of policing the
Ecuadorian embassy in Knightsbridge for the past three years now stands at around
£12m ($18.8m; €16.8m).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33894757
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An article from last year....

Wikileaks: Not safe for Assange to leave embassy even if Sweden drops case.

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=SUVKhChWQgs

Published on 27 Oct 2014


Sweden's chief prosecutor may have crushed hopes that Julian Assange's legal
battle could end today. Apparently, she is refusing to drop sexual assault
allegations against the whistleblower. The warrant was issued after Assange failed
to come to Sweden for questioning over rape accusations against him. He says the
case is made up to finally hand him over to the US. And he's currently avoiding this
scenario in Ecuador's embassy in London.

[MorningFox]

The most blatant smear campaign in history. Poor chap.

It's cases like this that should wake every policeman in the world up to the atrocities that they help to enforce and to be ashamed of the freedom and growth of humanity that they are responsible for helping to withhold.

[Cidersomerset]

2 of 4 sex allegations against Assange dropped due to statute of limitations expiry

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=AmE589P2LX0

Published on 13 Aug 2015


Swedish prosecutors have withdrawn two sex crime allegations against WikiLeaks founder
Julian Assange after they expired under statute of limitations law. One more allegation is
due to expire on August 18, while a fourth and final one will remain in force for years to come.

RT LIVE http://rt.com/on-air

[Cidersomerset]

'2 allegations dropped, but US won't rest trying to prosecute Assange' - attorney

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=ieTjNJGW0Yo

Published on 13 Aug 2015


It seems the Wikileaks editor Julian Assange, has out-waited his prosecutors in Sweden.
He's wanted there for questioning over sex crimes allegations - but the two out of four
claims against him have expired and therefore dropped. For some insight in the implications
of the story RT speaks to a member of the Assange legal team, Carey Shenkman.

[Cidersomerset]

UK officials said the bill for policing the embassy, which stands
at £12m ($18.8m; €16.8m), was "unacceptable".

The timing of the 'Protest' is amusing and obviously a blatant government response
to the criticism of a waste of tax payers money .Well we have known this for years
as the bill has been increasing daily. The worry is what will happen if the Swedish
judiciary does drop the rape charge as it is far from the clear the alleged victim
wanted to pursue the charge in the first place . What will the UK do then ? Give him
permission togo to Ecuador, the 'cheapest' option. Or arrest him and start costly
legal procedures ?


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Julian Assange case: UK to make formal protest to Ecuador


5 hours ago...From the section Europe

Julian Assange

Julian Assange, pictured in 2014, remains in the Ecuadorean embassy in London

The UK is to make a formal protest to the government of Ecuador over the country's
decision to "harbour" Julian Assange, the Foreign Office has said.The Wikileaks co-founder
sought asylum at London's Ecuadorean embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden.

UK officials said the bill for policing the embassy, which stands at £12m ($18.8m; €16.8m),
was "unacceptable".Earlier, Swedish prosecutors dropped two sex assault claims against
Mr Assange, who had denied the claims.

Mr Assange still faces the more serious accusation of rape, which he also denies.

'Abuse of relations'

The British Ambassador in Quito, Ecuador's capital, is to make the formal protest to the
Ecuadorean government on Thursday."Ecuador must recognise that its decision to harbour
Mr Assange more than three years ago has prevented the proper course of justice... It is
completely unacceptable that the British taxpayer has had to foot the bill for this abuse
of diplomatic relations," said Foreign Office minister Hugo Swire.

Mr Swire said the UK "continues to have a legal obligation" to extradite Mr Assange over the rape allegation.

"I have instructed our ambassador in Quito to reiterate to Ecuador that the continuing
failure... to bring this situation to an end, is being seen as a growing stain on the
country's reputation," he added.

Read More....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33907874

[Cidersomerset]

Gov’t charges against Chelsea Manning are ridiculous – activist

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=m55xkLZaKIM

Published on 13 Aug 2015


Whistleblower Chelsea Manning is facing indefinite solitary confinement during her time in
prison after authorities discovered she had issues of Vanity Fair and toothpaste in her cell.
Anya Parampil speaks with Clark Stoeckley, author of “The United States vs Pvt. Chelsea
Manning,” about the charges and the government’s intentions.