Julian Assange is free after securing a plea deal and being released from London’s high-security Belmarsh Prison, where he spent five years.
According to a WikiLeaks statement, the 52-year-old Australian was transferred from Belmarsh to London’s Stansted airport on Monday. From there, he departed for an undisclosed location.
Assange’s wife, Stella Assange, expressed deep gratitude for the global support that contributed to his release. She shared on social media platform X, “Julian is free!!!! Words cannot express our immense gratitude to everyone involved in the push for his release.”
Stella met Assange while he was in Ecuador’s London embassy, evading extradition to Sweden on now-dropped sexual assault charges.
Assange was accused of leaking US military secrets; Assange was set to appear in a London court following a successful extradition appeal next month. WikiLeaks confirmed his release, stating, “Julian Assange left Belmarsh on the morning of June 24, after 1,901 days. Granted bail by the High Court, he was released at Stansted airport in the afternoon and left the UK.”
The media freedom group credited sustained campaigning—from grassroots to political leaders and the United Nations—for creating negotiation opportunities with the US Department of Justice, which led to the deal. However, the deal has not yet been formally finalized.
Initially detained for skipping bail in the Swedish case, Assange faced US extradition proceedings while in custody.
Assange plans to reunite with his wife, whom he married in prison, and their two young children. WikiLeaks highlighted its role in exposing government corruption and human rights abuses, noting Assange’s sacrifices for journalistic principles and the public’s right to know. As he returned to Australia, WikiLeaks thanked supporters for their steadfast commitment to Assange’s freedom, stating, “Julian’s freedom is our freedom.”
