Julian Assange seeks permission to appeal again in final stage of extradition process to US

It has to be decided in two hearings whether Julian Assange He can appeal his case again in the United Kingdom or instead be extradited to the United States, with a hearing beginning this Tuesday at the High Court in London.

Amidst great public and press expectations, the judge Victoria Sharp and Adam Johnson He began the session, which will conclude on Wednesday, by hearing arguments from the 52-year-old Australian’s defence.

Assange could not attend the hearing in personDespite the fact that the court authorized it, it was because he was not feeling well, said his lawyer Ed Fitzgerald.

The British prosecutor’s office will represent the US judge, who WikiLeaks founder pleads guilty to 18 counts of espionage and computer intrusion over revelations on his portalWhich exposed US human rights violations in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2010 and 2011.

The session was interrupted shortly after it started technical problems This was partially solved by preventing journalists from hearing what was happening in the room.

Assange’s defense argues for re-appeal

Fitzgerald begins his argument Listing the reasons why your customer should be able to appeal againBelieving that if he were extradited to the United States, his rights to a fair trial and freedom of expression would be violated.

“The charges are politically motivated. Assange has revealed a serious criminality. He is being prosecuted for carrying out ordinary journalistic practice, obtaining and publishing classified information.” Information that is true and clear and of significant public interest

“he argued.

At the request of the computer programmer’s defense, two judges on Tuesday and Wednesday will review the ruling handed down on June 6, 2023, by a single judge, Jonathan Swift, who refused to allow him to continue his appeal to this country and extradition. Had given. Order is good for America

After listening to the parties, the magistrate will be able to Give your decision immediately or postpone it, If he is ultimately allowed to appeal aspects of his case that the defense failed to address in previous trials, the trial will begin. New case before the Court of Appeal Londoner. However, if they agree with Swift in banning it, delivery system to usaSupervised by the British Home Office.

In the second case, his lawyers have already said that they will request immediate precautionary measures European Court of Human Resources (ECHR)Under Article 39 of its rules, to prevent extradition while they lodge an appeal before the European Court of Justice.