Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Ricardo Patiño said Thursday there is credible fear that if Assange is sent to Sweden, he could be subsequently be extradited to the United States, where he could be charged with espionage and treason.
In the United States, there are no guarantees that Assange would receive a fair trial or that he wouldn’t be subject to a military or secret tribunal, Patiño added.
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“The Ecuadorian government, after carrying out a fair and objective analysis of the situation presented by Mr. Assange and evaluating his oral and written arguments, has decided that there’s cause to presume that he could be the target of political persecution or that such persecution could happen if no timely and necessary measures are taken to prevent it,” Patiño said.
Ecuador asked Britain to guarantee safe passage for Assange and to respect its decision.
But the UK said it was disappointed by the decision and restated its position that Britain is obligated to extradite Assange to Sweden.
“We shall carry out that obligation. The Ecuadorian government’s decision this afternoon does not change that,” the UK Foreign Office said in a statement.
Britain wants a negotiated solution that will result in extradition.
Patiño preceded his announcement Thursday with a lengthy argument against any British action against Ecuador’s embassy in London. In remarks Wednesday, he said the Ecuadorian government had received a written notice from British authorities that they would “assault” the country’s embassy in London if Ecuadorian officials failed to hand over Assange.
The British say one of their laws allows for it to enter the embassy and arrest Assange. Patiño cited a laundry list of international treaties and conventions that he said make it clear that it is illegal to enter another country’s embassy.(CNN)