“We cannot accept a political persecution for the ideas Mr. Assange expressed,” Correa told reporters Thursday.
“If he has committed any type of crime through WikiLeaks, then let those charges be brought forth. It is very strange that the current charges are of a completely different nature.”
Assange is seeking to avoid extradition to Sweden over allegations of rape and other sex crimes. He has been arrested in absentia, Swedish prosecutors have said.
He was arrested in Britain in 2010 because Swedish authorities wanted to question him about allegations of rape and sexual molestation. His bail conditions included staying every night at the home of a supporter outside of London.
He went to the Ecuadorian Embassy in London on Tuesday to seek asylum.
On Thursday, Metropolitan Police said he violated the conditions of his bail and would be arrested if he leaves the embassy.
Two women have accused Assange of sexually assaulting them during an August 2010 visit to Sweden in connection with a WikiLeaks release of internal U.S. military documents. He was arrested in Britain that December and has been fighting extradition ever since, arguing the allegations are retribution for his organization’s disclosure of American secrets
WikiLeaks, which facilitates the anonymous leaking of secret information, has published some 250,000 confidential U.S. diplomatic cables, causing embarrassment to the government and others. It also has published hundreds of thousands of classified U.S. documents relating to the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Assange sought refuge at the embassy five days after the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom dismissed a bid to reopen his appeal of the decision to send him to Sweden — his last option in British courts. British officials have met with Ecuadorian authorities, but no information has been released about those meetings.
It is unclear when Ecuador will make a decision on Assange’s asylum request. (CNN)