Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, is poised to break his silence after years of legal battles and imprisonment. He will deliver an address to the Council of Europe on October 1st, marking his first public comments since his release from a British prison in June.
Assange, who spent most of the last 14 years either seeking refuge in the Ecuadoran embassy in London or incarcerated at Belmarsh Prison, was released after serving a sentence for publishing sensitive US government documents. The leaks included damaging revelations about US foreign policy, including frank assessments of foreign leaders, accounts of extrajudicial killings, and intelligence gathering against allies.
His appearance before the Council of Europe, an international body promoting human rights, is raising eyebrows. While Assange’s supporters view it as a chance for him to champion free speech and investigative journalism, some experts believe it could jeopardize his chances of receiving a presidential pardon from President Joe Biden.
Matthew Ricketson, a communications professor at Deakin University, commented, “He’s an inveterate limelight-seeker,” suggesting Assange’s decision to speak publicly was only a matter of time. However, the timing and venue of his address have left some questioning the strategy. The Council of Europe, despite its commitment to human rights, has limited influence over Assange’s legal fate.
Holly Cullen, a law professor at the University of Western Australia, expressed concerns that Assange’s critical stance towards the US government could undermine his pardon bid. “Even if he personally thinks that he doesn’t care, his legal advisers would say ‘maybe you need to be a bit more restrained until the pardon issue is resolved,” Cullen said.
Assange’s case remains highly contentious. His supporters hail him as a champion of transparency, while detractors argue that his actions put lives at risk and endangered US security. President Biden, who has previously labeled Assange a “terrorist”, is expected to issue a series of pardons before leaving office next January.
Assange’s decision to speak publicly at the Council of Europe will likely draw significant attention. His address promises to shed light on his perspective and reignite the debate surrounding his actions and their consequences.
