Quito, Aug 11 (Andes).- Ecuadorian Attorney General notified Sweden it agrees to set a date to question WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for more than four years.
Observing the terms established in the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters between Ecuador and Sweden, the attorney general will establish a date for the proceedings to be held at the Ecuadorian embassy in the United Kingdom in the coming weeks.
Through a statement, the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry noted that the proceedings, within the framework of the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, do not affect conclusions and recommendations of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
It recalled that during more than four years, the Ecuadorian government “has offered to cooperate in facilitating the questioning of Julian Assange in the Ecuadorian embassy in London as well as proposing other political and legal measures to reach a satisfactory solution for all parties, to end unnecessary delays in the process and guarantee the effective legal protection.”
Ecuador proposed Sweden the negotiation of a Legal Assistance Agreement in Criminal Matters signed last December which provides the legal framework for the questioning.
In the statement published Wednesday, the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry reiterates its commitment to the asylum granted to the Australian in August 2012 and reaffirmed that the protection of granted by the Ecuadorian state will continue while the circumstances that led to the granting of the asylum persist, especially fears for political persecution.”
More than four years ago, Assange requested protection fearing to be extradited to the United States for publishing diplomatic documents. Since then, he expects to travel to Quito but fears he could be arrested by British officials to be sent to Sweden where he is wanted for questioning over sex allegations which he denies.
