Julian Assange, the enigmatic founder of WikiLeaks, has re-entered the realm of freedom after spending five arduous years behind bars in a high-security London prison. As he settles into life back in Australia, his wife, Stella, spoke to reporters on Thursday, shedding light on his current state of mind and future plans.Julian Assange, the enigmatic founder of WikiLeaks, has re-entered the realm of freedom after spending five arduous years behind bars in a high-security London prison. As he settles into life back in Australia, his wife, Stella, spoke to reporters on Thursday, shedding light on his current state of mind and future plans. Despite the weight of his past experiences, Assange is slowly “rediscovering” life, according to Stella. The 52-year-old has expressed a desire to indulge in simple pleasures, such as swimming in the ocean, sleeping in a comfortable bed, and savoring the taste of real food. His focus is on regaining a sense of normalcy and reclaiming his freedom. Assange’s legal battle with the US Department of Justice has spanned 14 years, culminating in his guilty plea to revealing military secrets. Based on a plea agreement, he was sentenced to time already served and was released from custody. The ordeal has undoubtedly taken its toll, Stella noted. Stella emphasized the importance of privacy and recovery for her husband at this time. Assange has not yet reunited with his two children, who were not present when his plane landed. The family plans to reunite in due course. Stella shared an emotional video she sent to Assange on the day of his US court hearing, showing their children expressing their joy at the prospect of their father’s return. Assange spent a significant portion of the past five years fighting extradition to the United States under the Espionage Act. He also sought refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for seven years to avoid extradition to Sweden on sexual assault charges, which were eventually dropped. Stella and Assange, who met while he was still residing in the Ecuadorian embassy and married in London prison, have yet to discuss their future plans in detail. The focus for now is on Assange’s recovery and reintegration into society.
CANBERRA: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is “rediscovering” life as he tastes freedom in Australia after a five-year stint in a high-security London prison, his wife said on Thursday (June 27).
The 52-year-old had landed in Canberra the night before, hours after pleading guilty to revealing military secrets in a US court on a Pacific island.
Based on a plea agreement, he was sentenced to the sentence he had already served and was released. This ended a 14-year legal battle with the US Department of Justice.
But the prison sentence has taken its toll.
Assange did not attend a press conference after landing, with his wife near tears as she pleaded for family privacy and time for him to recover.
“He is enjoying freedom for the first time in fourteen years. He needs time to rest and recover. And he is just rediscovering normal life. And he needs space to do that,” Stella Assange told reporters on Thursday.
“Julian plans to swim in the ocean every day. He plans to sleep in a real bed. He plans to taste real food. And he plans to enjoy his freedom.”
“JUMPING ON THE COUCH”
The WikiLeaks publisher had not yet seen his two children, who were staying and sleeping elsewhere when his plane landed, she said.
Stella Assange said she sent her husband a video on the day of his hearing in US court showing their children “jumping on the couch” at the prospect of their father’s return.
Assange spent more than five years in London’s Belmarsh Prison fighting extradition to the United States under the 1917 Espionage Act.
He had been living in Ecuador’s embassy in London for seven years to avoid extradition to Sweden on sexual assault charges, which were eventually dropped.
The couple have not had time to discuss how their lives will unfold since his release, said Stella, who met Assange while he was still in the Ecuadorian embassy and married him in London prison.
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