WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange got a chance to continue his fight against extradition to the US, after the Supreme Court in London assessed that Washington must provide additional guarantees.
The two judges said in the ruling that Assange has a “realistic prospect” of success in his extradition appeal to the US on a number of grounds.
On the other hand, the Court provided an opportunity for the US authorities to provide “satisfactory guarantees” regarding the issues of whether Assange can rely on the First Amendment of the US Constitution and whether he is subject to the death penalty in America.
If the US does not send guarantees on time, Assange will be allowed to file a new appeal.
The next hearing in Assange’s case is scheduled for May 20.
The US Prosecutor’s Office wants to try Assange (52) on the basis of 18 counts of the indictment, because “Wikileaks” published confidential US military and diplomatic documents.
After a British court initially decided to extradite Assange, his lawyers asked for permission to appeal, arguing that his prosecution was politically motivated, BHRT writes.