Julian Assange to claim asylum in FRANCE after WikiLeaks turns on UK and US
JULIAN Assange is to seek political asylum in France after Sweden dropped its seven-year investigation into the WikiLeaks founder, his lawyer has revealed.
By KATIE MANSFIELD
Express.co.uk
Fri, May 19, 2017
Many thought Julian Assange would attempt to claim asylum in Ecuador after living in its London embassy for almost five years.
Swedish Director of Public Prosecutions Marianne Ny said she had decided to “discontinue” the investigation into an alleged sex offence, although it is unlikely to lead to Mr Assange immediately leaving the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.
Scotland Yard says it is obliged to execute a warrant issued by Westminster Magistrates’ Court for the arrest of Mr Assange following his failure to surrender to the court in June 2012, should he leave the embassy.
Juan Branco, a lawyer representing the WikiLeaks founder, said Mr Assange will now seek political asylum in France.
However it remains unclear how he will make the journey to France without being arrested.
Mr Branco said: “He will not try to leave and to claim asylum in France.”
Despite plans to claim asylum in France, the Ecuadorian government is stepping up its efforts to allow Mr Assange to continue his asylum in Ecuador.
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