Julian Assange accused of setting up 'spy centre' in Ecuadorian embassy

Ecuador's President has accused Wikileaks founder Julian Assange of trying to set up a "centre for spying" in the London embassy.

Julian Assange following his arrest.

Julian Assange following his arrest. Source: AAP

Julian Assange has been accused of trying to create a "centre for spying" in the Ecuadorian embassy that sheltered him.

Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno says no other country had an influence over the decision to revoke the WikiLeaks founder's asylum.

The comments in an interview with The Guardian newspaper show the degradation of Assange's relationship with Ecuador, which allowed him to stay in the London embassy for nearly seven years.

The 47-year-old was dragged out by police in dramatic scenes on Thursday and now faces up to 12 months in prison for breaching his UK bail.
Julian Assange following his arrest.
Julian Assange following his arrest. Source: AAP
Assange took refuge at the embassy after losing his battle against extradition to Sweden, where he faced allegations including rape.

Moreno, who became president in 2017, said his nation's previous government provided spying facilities within the embassy.

"We cannot allow our house, the house that opened its doors, to become a centre for spying," Mr Moreno has told the newspaper.

"This activity violates asylum conditions. Our decision is not arbitrary but is based on international law."

The president also made references to Assange's apparently poor hygiene, which include Assange "putting faeces on the walls".

Assange's lawyer, Jennifer Robinson, said the Ecuadorian government has been spreading lies about his behaviour to justify allowing British police into its embassy to take Assange into custody.

"I think the first thing to say is Ecuador has been making some pretty outrageous allegations over the past few days to justify what was an unlawful and extraordinary act in allowing British police to come inside an embassy," she said on Sky's Sophy Ridge On Sunday.
Supporters of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange protest outside the British Embassy in Washington, DC.
Supporters of Assange protest outside the British Embassy in Washington, DC. Source: AAP
Ms Ridge also said Assange's fears of a US extradition threat were proved correct this week after allegations were made that he conspired to hack into a classified Pentagon computer.

The Wikileaks founder is now expected to fight extradition to the US over an allegation that he conspired with former army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to break into a classified government computer.

British Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has joined Assange's supporters in saying he should be protected against extradition to the US because he exposed evidence of "atrocities" in Iraq and Afghanistan.


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2 min read
Published 15 April 2019 6:46am
Updated 15 April 2019 8:15am


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