Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, made his first public appearance on Tuesday since his release, attributing his freedom to pleading guilty to "journalism", which he described as a fundamental pillar of a free society. Speaking at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, Assange noted that he was not freed because "the system worked", but rather due to his admission of guilt.
"I am not free today because the system worked. I am free today after years of incarceration because I pleaded guilty to journalism. I pleaded guilty to seeking information from a source," Assange said in his address to the Council of Europe’s legal committee. He further stated, "I eventually chose freedom over unrealisable justice after being detained for years and facing a 175 year sentence with no effective remedy."
"Justice for me is now precluded as the US government insisted in writing into its plea agreement that I cannot file a case at the ECHR or even a freedom of information act request over what it did to me as a result of its extradition request," he remarked.
Assange spent the last 14 years largely confined—first in the Ecuadoran embassy in London to avoid arrest, and later at Belmarsh Prison in the British capital. His release in June followed a sentence he served for publishing hundreds of thousands of confidential US government documents through WikiLeaks.
Criminalisation Of Newsgathering A Threat To Investigative Journalism: Julian Assange
Accompanied by his wife Stella, who campaigned for his release, Assange argued that journalism is not a crime, emphasising its role in maintaining a free and informed society. "Journalism is not a crime, it is a pillar of a free and informed society," he said, adding, "The fundamental issue is simple. Journalists should not be prosecuted for doing their jobs."
The cache of classified US documents released by WikiLeaks revealed blunt assessments from the US State Department about foreign leaders, along with details of extrajudicial killings and intelligence activities. Assange highlighted that his case demonstrates how "powerful intelligence organisations engage in transnational repression" against their adversaries, warning that this trend "cannot become the norm here."
"When powerful nations feel entitled to target individuals beyond their borders, those individuals do not stand a chance unless there are strong safeguards in place and a state willing to enforce them. Without them no individual has a hope of defending themselves against the vast resources a state aggressor can deploy," he remarked.
"The criminalization of newsgathering activities is a threat to investigative journalism everywhere. I was formally convicted, by a foreign power, for asking for, receiving, and publishing truthful information about that power while I was in Europe," the WikiLeaks founder remarked.
Julian Assange On His Incarceration: 'Relentless Struggle To Stay Alive'
Reflecting on his incarceration, Assange expressed, "The experience of isolation for years in a small cell is difficult to convey; it strips away one's sense of self, leaving only the raw essence of existence. I am not yet fully equipped to speak about what I have endured - the relentless struggle to stay alive, both physically nor mentally, and the deaths by hanging, murder, and medical neglect of my fellow prisoners."
Further, he conveyed concern over the current state of freedom of expression, noting a decline in transparency. "As I emerge from the dungeon of Belmarsh, the truth now seems less discernible, and I regret how much ground has been lost during that time period when expressing the truth has been undermined, attacked, weakened, and diminished. I now see more impunity, more secrecy and more retaliation for telling the truth," he remarked.
Assange also spoke about WikiLeaks' founding principles, driven by a desire to expose hidden truths about war, torture, and mass surveillance. He recounted the significant revelations made by WikiLeaks, including the "Collateral Murder" video, which exposed the killing of Iraqi journalists by a US Apache helicopter.
A significant portion of Assange's testimony was dedicated to exposing the CIA’s efforts to retaliate against him and WikiLeaks. He alleged that the CIA, under the direction of Mike Pompeo, launched plans to kidnap or assassinate him, targeted his family, and hacked his associates. "It is now a matter of public record that under Pompeo's explicit direction, the CIA drew up plans to kidnap and to assassinate me within the Ecuadorian Embassy in London and authorized going after my European colleagues, subjecting us to theft, hacking attacks, and the planting of false information," he added.
The WikiLeaks founder concluded his speech with a rallying call: "Let us all commit to doing our part to ensure the light of freedom never dims and the pursuit of truth will live on and the voices of many are not silenced by the interests of the few."
Assange's case remains a topic of heated debate. Supporters view him as a free speech advocate who was wrongfully imprisoned, while detractors label him a reckless figure whose publication of sensitive documents endangered lives and US security.
US President Joe Biden, who has previously called Assange a "terrorist", is expected to consider issuing pardons before leaving office in January. Assange continues to campaign for a pardon from the United States for his conviction under the Espionage Act.
His appearance at the Council of Europe, an organisation of 46 signatories to the European Convention on Human Rights, raised eyebrows, as the body has no direct influence over his legal standing.