'Moving Closer To Freedom': Julian Assange's Flight Stops In Bangkok While On Way To US Court, Wife 'Elated' At Deal
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's flight stopped in Bangkok today for refueling. He is on his way to the US Court in Saipan after agreeing to a deal that would free him.
The plane believed to be carrying WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange landed in Bangkok on Tuesday, while on its way to reach the US, where Assange is set to appear before a Court in Saipan to enter into a plea deal with the US government.
Arriving in Bangkok #AssangeJet pic.twitter.com/K3tCn0Zyzk
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) June 25, 2024
The WikiLeaks founder was freed from Belmarsh prison after 1901 days. He was granted bail by the High Court in London following which he was released at Stansted airport during the afternoon from where he boarded a plane and departed the UK at 5 PM (BST).
Julian Assange boards flight at London Stansted Airport at 5PM (BST) Monday June 24th. This is for everyone who worked for his freedom: thank you.#FreedJulianAssange pic.twitter.com/Pqp5pBAhSQ
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) June 25, 2024
Assange is in a chartered flight VJT199, which landed after noon at Don Mueang International Airport, north of the Thai capital, airport officials told The Associated Press.
The plane only halted briefly in Bangkok for refuelling and is set to depart on Tuesday evening for Saipan.
Saipan is the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands, which is a US commonwealth in the western Pacific. Here, he will appear in a court on Wednesday morning.
He has agreed to a US deal and will plead guilty to charge and go free. Under the US deal he will be sentenced to 62 months of time, which he already served, and will spare him of the additionl prison time. He will return to Australia after the hearing, bringing an end to the saga.
The hearing is being held in Saipan as Assange has disagreed to travelling to the US and also the court here is close to Australia.
Assange's wife Stella told news agency BBC that she is "elated" that her husband will return home soon, adding that the deal was "touch and go at time".
She also said, "We weren't really sure until the last 24 hours that it was actually happening."
Meanwhile, WikiLeaks has started an online campaign on social media under the hashtage AssangeJet, requesting users to track the flight he is in for the next 24 hours.
All eyes on Flight VJ199 for the next 24 hours #AssangeJet https://t.co/It9CkV8Vg2
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) June 25, 2024
'Published Groundbreaking Stories Of Government Corruption': WikiLeaks
Assanage was accused of encouraging and helping the US Army Intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, steal classified documents that were leaked by WikiLeaks. The company had released thousands of classified documents regaridng US's war in Afghantisan and Iraq.
Subsequently, Assange was charged for consipracy to obtain and disclose national records and was prosecuted under the Espionage Act during former president Trump's administration.
Since then he was in the British prison for the past five years, where he had been fighting extradition to the US, where he feared he might be sentenced to a lengthier sentence.
"WikiLeaks published groundbreaking 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," WikiLekas said in its statement.
WikiLeaks statement also said that after spending more than five years in a 2x3 metre cell, isolated 23 hours a day, Assange will soon reunite with his wife Stella Assange, and their children in Australia.
"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," the statement read.
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