Australia’s prime minister ‘may raise the topic of Julian Assange’s extradition at the Biden summit next month’
The stalled row over the extradition to America of Wikileaks publisher Julian Assange has finally moved forward with a prison visit from the Australian High Commissioner to London.
Assange, 51, who is on remand at HMP Belmarsh maximum security prison, has Australian nationality.
The move suggests Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will raise his captivity with US President Joe Biden at a summit in Sydney next month.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese could raise the issue of the extradition to America of Wikileaks publisher Julian Assange (pictured in 2017) with US President Joe Biden at a summit in Sydney next month
Assange is wanted in the US for 17 offenses under the espionage law and one of conspiracy to commit computer break-ins. All relate to the leak of 700,000 classified documents by former US intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning in 2010.
If found guilty, the father of two could face up to 175 years in prison. He has applied for leave to appeal against the British government’s decision to extradite him.
In a separate move, more than 30 MPs and members of the Lords will write to US Attorney General Merrick Garland tomorrow to warn that his extradition would have a chilling impact on journalism.