Cidersomerset
12th August 2015, 17:58
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?
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.
===================================================
http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/2.84.11/orb/4/img/bbc-blocks-dark.png
Julian Assange case: Sweden to drop sex assault inquiry
By Caroline Hawley
BBC News
49 minutes ago....From the section Europe
http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/4A14/production/_84846981_027997920-1.jpg
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.
http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/BF44/production/_84846984_027791577-1.jpg
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
====================================================
====================================================
An article from last year....
Wikileaks: Not safe for Assange to leave embassy even if Sweden drops case.
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.
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?
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.
===================================================
http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/2.84.11/orb/4/img/bbc-blocks-dark.png
Julian Assange case: Sweden to drop sex assault inquiry
By Caroline Hawley
BBC News
49 minutes ago....From the section Europe
http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/4A14/production/_84846981_027997920-1.jpg
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.
http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/BF44/production/_84846984_027791577-1.jpg
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
====================================================
====================================================
An article from last year....
Wikileaks: Not safe for Assange to leave embassy even if Sweden drops case.
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.