Wikileaks founder - Julian Assange reunited with family after landing in Australia
After landing in his Australian homeland, Julian Assange had an emotional reunion with his family. Videos on social media showed the 52-year-old hugging his wife Stella for the first time in freedom shortly after exiting the charter plane.
Their relationship began after Assange had been holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012. Assange kissed his wife passionately and then embraced his father, John Shipton.
Julian Assange welcomed home in Canberra with cheers
Witnesses cheered as Assange left the charter plane. There were "Welcome home" shouts. The Australian waved to the people and raised his fist in victory several times towards the sky. It is expected that he will make a public statement later in the evening.
Assange's journey in Australia marked the end of a long odyssey following the publication of classified US documents on the Wikileaks disclosure platform in 2010. He had spent more than five years in a British prison and an additional seven years in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. Assange and his supporters had negotiated a deal with the US, the terms of which resulted in his freedom.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who had advocated for Assange's release, thanked him for his call after his arrival.
Assange had surrendered himself to a district court on the US Pacific island of Saipan and pleaded guilty to one charge: he had illegally obtained and published classified military documents, believing it was protected as journalistic work under the US Constitution's freedom of speech. The court then sentenced him as agreed to a five-year prison term, which he had already served in his British detention.
Julian Assange's arrival in Canberra was met with cheers and "Welcome home" shouts, as he made his way off the charter plane. He is expected to make a public statement later in the evening, following a long odyssey that began after the publication of classified US documents on the Wikileaks disclosure platform in 2010. Assange, a native of Australia, previously sought asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for over seven years, during which time he also spent more than five years in a British prison. Upon exiting the plane, Assange was emotionally reunited with his family, including his wife Stella, whom he kissed passionately, and his father, John Shipton, whom he embraced. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who had advocated for Assange's release, thanked him for his call after his arrival.
