London, 25 June 2024– WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been released from Balmers Prison in the UK after reaching a plea deal with US authorities, concluding a long and contentious legal battle over his extradition to the United States.

Assange, who has been imprisoned for 1,901 days, left Balmers Prison on Monday. According to a statement from WikiLeaks, he has been freed and has left the UK following the compromise with the US. The deal stipulates that Assange will not be taken into US custody but will be considered to have pleaded guilty to the criminal charges brought against him. His time served in the UK will count as his sentence.

The US Department of Justice confirmed that Assange, 52, will return to his home country of Australia as part of the agreement.

Julian Assange has been embroiled in a legal struggle to avoid extradition to the US for the past five years. The United States charged him with conspiracy to leak national defense information, asserting that WikiLeaks endangered lives by publishing classified documents related to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

WikiLeaks, which Assange founded in 2006, became known for releasing thousands of secret US documents. One of the most notable leaks occurred in July 2010, when WikiLeaks published nearly 70,000 documents detailing US military operations in Afghanistan. These leaks were subsequently reported by media outlets worldwide.

WikiLeaks specializes in publishing rare documents from undisclosed sources, claiming to have a growing database of over 1.2 million documents. The organization's activities have sparked significant debate about government transparency, national security, and the public's right to know.

In a statement posted on social media, WikiLeaks celebrated Assange’s release, emphasizing the end of his protracted incarceration and legal challenges. "Julian Assange is free," the statement read.

The release marks a significant turn in Assange's controversial journey, allowing him to return to Australia while avoiding further detention by US authorities. It remains to be seen how his release will affect WikiLeaks' operations and the broader discourse on whistleblowing and freedom of the press.

Julian Assange’s release closes a significant chapter in the saga of WikiLeaks and its founder, but the implications of his actions and the debate over government transparency and accountability continue to resonate globally.