The wait for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to return to his homeland has been extended due to a delay in his flight. Assange is scheduled to arrive in Australia’s capital following a plea deal with a US judge. According to tracking data, his flight departed later than initially planned from Saipan.
The flight from Saipan, a U.S. territory in the Northern Mariana Islands, to Canberra takes approximately six and a half hours. Assange has now been airborne for over two hours.
With Assange’s plea deal now finalized, Australia’s Prime Minister delivered his most emphatic remarks yet on the WikiLeaks founder’s case and the efforts to secure his release.
“This is what standing up for Australians worldwide looks like. It means accomplishing the task, achieving results, and delivering outcomes,” he declared in a speech to the national parliament.
He also stated that most Australians would be pleased to hear of Assange’s return home, noting that “this saga has come to an end.”
Meanwhile, WikiLeaks has announced plans to hold a press conference in Canberra this evening. The organization stated that the event will take place at a four-star hotel in the city center. It remains unclear whether Assange will appear or speak, but updates will be provided as they become available.
Supporters of Julian Assange have gathered outside the US Consulate General in Sydney to celebrate his release. Some popped champagne, while others shared food or waved signs at passersby.
Although Assange has often divided public opinion in Australia, recent years have seen a notable increase in support for him. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been advocating for his release since taking office in 2022, and a large bipartisan group of lawmakers travelled to Washington last September to pressure their US counterparts.
Julian Assange, an Australian journalist and founder of WikiLeaks, gained international prominence for publishing classified information provided by whistleblowers. Established in 2006, WikiLeaks exposed a wide array of sensitive documents, including government and corporate misconduct, sparking significant global debate over issues of transparency and privacy. Assange’s most notable release came in 2010, when WikiLeaks published a trove of classified U.S. military documents and diplomatic cables, revealing details about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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