Julian Assange: Timeline of his years in London Ecuadorean embassy, from Nigel Farage to Pamela Anderson
Australian first entered embassy in London’s Knightsbridge in 2012
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20 August 2010
The Swedish prosecutor’s office issues an arrest warrant for Julian Assange on allegations of molestation and rape. Both women reportedly say that what started as consensual sex became non-consensual. Assange was quoted in WIkiLeaks as saying the accusations are “without basis” and their appearance “at this moment is deeply disturbing”. A message on the WikiLeaks Twitter feed says the group has been warned to expect “dirty tricks”.
21 August 2010
The arrest warrant is withdrawn. Prosecutors say the investigation into the molestation allegation will continue but it is not a serious enough crime for an arrest warrant. Police in Stockholm question Assange and formally told of the allegations against him. He denies all of the allegations.
1 September 2010
Marianne Ny, Swedish director of prosecution, says she is reopening the rape investigation against Assange.
18 October 2010
Assange is denied residency in Sweden. An official on Sweden’s migration board says “he did not fulfil the requirements”.
18 November
Stockholm District Court approves a request to detain Assange for questioning on suspicion of rape, sexual molestation and unlawful coercion. Swedish police issue an international arrest warrant. By this time, Assange has travelled to London. Mark Stephens, his British Lawyer, says his client offered to be interviewed at the Swedish embassy in London or Scotland Yard or via video link.
8 December 2010
Assange gives himself up to British police and is taken to a hearing. He is remanded in custody pending another hearing.
16 December 2010
He is granted conditional bail and is freed by his supporters who pay £240,000 in cash.
24 February 2011
Assange should be extradited to Sweden, a British court rules. District Judge Howard denies this would breach his human rights.
2 November 2011
Assange loses an appeal against the decision to extradite him to Sweden.
30 May 2012
The Supreme Court rules that Assange should be extradited to Sweden
19 June 2012
Assange requests political asylum from the Ecuadorian embassy in London and enters the residence.
16 August 2012
Ecuador grants Assange political asylum.
19 August 2012
Assange makes his first public appearance in two months. Speaking from the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy in London, Assange asks the US government to “renounce its witch hunt” against Wikileaks.
November 2012
Ecuador’s ambassador to the UK, Ana Alban, says Assange is suffering a chronic lung condition after spending months inside a one-room office at the embassy. The Ecuadorian government later says Assange “does not have an urgent medical condition”.
13 June 2013
Speaking to journalists, he says he will not leave the embassy because he fears he will be extradited to the US, even if the sex charges against him are dropped.
18 August 2014
After two years of refuge, Assange says he will leave London’s Ecuadorian embassy “soon”. There is media speculation he needs medical treatment.
13 August 2015
Two accusations – one of sexual molestation and one of unlawful coercion – are dropped by Swedish prosecutors due to time restrictions. The allegation of rape still remains active until 2020.
12 October 2015
The Metropolitan Police announces guards will no longer stand outside the Ecuadorian embassy after three years of 24-hour security.
5 February 2016
The UN working group on arbitrary detention says Assange is being “arbitrarily detained” in the Ecuadorian embassy and calls on authorities to end his “deprivation of liberty”.
9 February 2016
Swedish prosecutors say they are working on a renewed request to interview Assange at the embassy
9 August 2016
In an appeal to a Swedish court, Assange argues the country must comply with the UN working group’s findings that his “deprivation of liberty” was unlawful.
October 2016
Former Baywatch star visits Assange at the embassy and brings him a vegan meal.
14 November 2016
At the Ecuadorian embassy, Assange is questioned by Sweden’s chief prosecutor Ingrid Isgren in a two-day interview about the remaining sex allegation.
17 January 2017
Barack Obama’s decision to free whistleblower Chelsea Manning leads to speculation Assange will end his self-imposed exile. WikiLeaks tweeted prior to the decision: “If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ [Department of Justice] case.”
19 January 2017
At a press conference, Assange says as long as his rights are respected he stands by his offer to go to the US.
24 January 2017
Assange claims Barack Obama only granted Clemency to Chelsea Manning to “make life hard for him”.
9 March 2017
Nigel Farage, former Ukip leader, is spotted leaving the embassy where Assange is being held.
21 April 2017
Jeff Sessions, America’s attorney general, says Assange’s arrest is a “priority” for the United States. US media outlets report that prosecutors are considering charges against Assange.
19 May 2017
The rape investigation into Assange is dropped by the Swedish police.
11 January 2018
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office refuses to recognise Assange as a diplomatic agent. The Ecuadorian government confirms he was granted citizenship in December.
28 March 2018
Assange can no longer use the internet after his access is suspended by the Ecuadorian embassy following complaints he has interfered with other countries’ affairs.
27 July 2018
Ecuador and the UK confirm they are holding talks about the fate of Assange.
9 August 2018
Following allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, the US senate committee asks to interview Assange.
19 October 2018
Assange threatens legal action against the government of Ecuador for violating his “fundamental rights and freedoms”,
5 April 2019
Reports emerge he is soon going to be removed from the embassy.
11 April 2019
He is arrested by British police at the Ecuadorian embassy in London after his diplomatic status is rescinded. The Metropolitan Police says the Australian hacker was initially detained for failing to surrender to court in 2012. But after arriving at a London police station, a spokesperson says he was “further arrested on behalf of the United States authorities”.