Julian Assange freed from prison in a plea deal

Julian Assange has been released from HMP Belmarsh after five year as a plea deal was reached with the US authorities.

The WikiLeaks founder will appear in a federal court to plead guilty to Espionage of conspiring to unlawfully obtain classified national defence information.

The High Court has granted Assange bail and he will return back to Australia.

Assange left Stanstead Airport on Monday and arrived in his home country Australia at noon local time, (6amBST) today.

In a statement posted on X Assange was released on Monday morning “after having spent 1,901 days” inside HMP Belmarsh.

The statement added, “He was granted bail by the High Court in London and was released at Stansted airport during the afternoon, where he boarded a plane and departed the UK.

“This is the result of a global campaign that spanned grass-roots organisers, press freedom campaigners, legislators and leaders from across the political spectrum, all the way to the United Nations.

“This created the space for a long period of negotiations with the US Department of Justice, leading to a deal that has not yet been formally finalised.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the nation’s parliament on Tuesday “we want him brought home to Australia.”

He said: “I’ve been very clear as both the Labour leader and opposition, but also as prime minister that – regardless of the views that people have about Mr Assange’s activities – the case has dragged on for too long.

“There is nothing to be gained by his continued incarceration and we want him brought home to Australia.”

He added that Australian diplomats “have engaged and advocated Australia’s interest using all appropriate channels to support a positive outcome.”

He added, “I will have more to say when these legal proceedings have concluded, which I hope will be very soon, and I will report as appropriate at that time.”

The WikiLeaks statement also thanked “all who stood by us, fought for us, and remained utterly committed in the fight for his freedom”.

It said: “After more than five years in a 2×3 metre cell, isolated 23 hours a day, he will soon reunite with his wife Stella Assange, and their children, who have only known their father from behind bars.

“WikiLeaks published ground-breaking stories of government corruption and human rights abuses, holding the powerful accountable for their actions. As editor-in-chief, Julian paid severely for these principles, and for the people’s right to know.

“As he returns to Australia, we thank all who stood by us, fought for us, and remained utterly committed in the fight for his freedom. Julian’s freedom is our freedom.”