Ecuador president calls Julian Assange a ‘problem’


Team Udayavani, Jan 22, 2018, 12:39 PM IST

Quito: The president of Ecuador Lenin Moreno today described WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange as an “inherited problem” that has created “more than a nuisance” for his government. “We hope to have a positive result” on the issue, he said in an interview with television networks.

Earlier this month, Ecuador announced it had granted citizenship to Assange, in an unsuccessful attempt to provide him with diplomatic immunity and usher him out of its London embassy without the threat of arrest by Britain.

Moreno said his country was continuing to seek mediation involving “important people,” without specifying whom he meant. Assange fled to the embassy in 2012 to avoid being extradited to Sweden for alleged sex crimes, which he denies, and has remained in the building ever since.

Sweden later shelved its investigation, but Assange faces arrest by British authorities for fleeing justice in the Swedish case. He fears British authorities will then allow his extradition to the United States where he is wanted for publication by WikiLeaks of classified information in 2010.

The WikiLeaks founder has strained the patience of his hosts since taking up the offer of asylum made by then- president Rafael Correa in 2012. He was publicly reprimanded for interfering in the 2016 US election after publishing hacked emails from the campaign team of Democrat Hillary Clinton.

More recently, he drew the ire of Correa’s successor, President Moreno, when he used Twitter to pump out messages of support for Catalonia’s independence drive. Moreno was forced to respond to complaints from the Spanish government.

Commenting on the move to designate Assange a diplomat, Moreno said: “This would have been a good result, unfortunately, things did not turn out as the foreign ministry planned and so the problem still exists.” 

Foreign Minister Maria Fernanda Espinosa has confirmed that Ecuador will maintain the asylum granted to Assange by the government of former president Rafael Correa.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

SC junks plea against quashing of LOC issued to ex-house help of Sushant Singh Rajput

JPC chairman Jagdambika Pal to visit K’taka on Nov 7 to meet farmers protesting Waqf notices

Indian boxer Mandeep Jangra wins WBF’s world title

IOA submits ‘Letter of Intent’ to host 2036 Olympics in India

CBDT allows tax officials to waive or reduce interest due from assessee

Like UP, bring BJP to power in Jharkhand to ‘bulldoze’ mafia: Yogi at Koderma poll rally

Govt asks Wikipedia why it should not be treated as publisher instead of intermediary

Related Articles More

‘Idiot’: Former Canadian Sikh minister slams Justin Trudeau over Khalistan issue

Canadian cop suspended for attending pro-Khalistan protest outside Hindu temple

US going to historically tight presidential election

Expect Canadian government to ensure justice, uphold rule of law: PM Modi

Khalistanis clash with people at Hindu temple in Canada, Trudeau says unacceptable

MUST WATCH

Gho Pooja in Deepavali Festival

Melukote Deepavali

Ganapathi Co-operative Society Ltd

Udayavani Chinnara Banna 2024

Annapoorna Aahar | Food Places In Mysore


Latest Additions

Rebels to be shown the door: Maharashtra BJP chief Bawankule

Rohit Shetty says ‘Singham Again’ his fastest Rs 100 crore film, thanks audience for support

SC junks plea against quashing of LOC issued to ex-house help of Sushant Singh Rajput

People of Wayanad will ask me not to come there often: Priyanka Gandhi

Belagavi: Govt clerk found dead in Tehsildar’s chamber 

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.