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On Monday, Baraitser denied that Assange, 49, would be extradited to the U.S. because of the activist's delicate health situation and the high risk of suicide.
The United Kingdom Westminster Magistrates' Court in London Wednesday ruled not to grant bail to Australian journalist Julian Assange "because of flight risk."
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"I ruled not to send Assange to the U.S., and the government has appealed. As far as Assange is concerned, this case is not yet resolved," U.K. Judge Vanessa Baraitser said.
WikiLeaks founder was expected to be released on bail during the time it takes for Washington to appeal the U.K.'s decision not to extradite him to the U.S.
"Assange has already been detained solely based on the U.S. extradition request. That request has been denied, now he must be given liberty," the journalist's defense urged.
In the first minutes of the hearing, U.S. Attorney Clair Dobbin, however, demanded Judge Baraitser not to allow the journalist's release because "he cannot be trusted. Assange is determined to avoid extradition."
Dobbin suggested that Assange might flee to Mexico because President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) offered him political asylum.
This is what 10 years of persecution has done to my son, multi-award journalist Julian Assange
— ��Christine Assange #FreeAssangeNOW (@MrsC_Assange) December 30, 2020
Detained yrs without charge, denied fresh air, exercise,sun/vitD, proper medical/dental care & psychologically tortured
Now chronically ill, in pain & traumatized #FreeAssangeNOW pic.twitter.com/I6Q7iC9tqJ
Dozens of people accompany the hearing from the courthouse entrance with banners and shouts of "Free Julian Assange, now."
On Monday, Baraitser denied that Assange, 49, would be extradited to the U.S. because of the activist's delicate health situation and the high risk of suicide.
The Australian suffers from clinical depression, which could be exacerbated if he faces the U.S. high-security prisons' brutal conditions.
The U.S. wants Assange to be extradited, so he faces charges of espionage and computer hacking. In that country, he could receive up to 175 years in prison.
From 2010 to 2011, WikiLeaks revealed Washington's intentions to intervene in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Assange has been held in a U.K. maximum security prison since President Lenin Moreno's government expelled him from the Embassy of Ecuador in London in April 2019.
Legendary musician Roger Waters is at the forefront of the protests in support for Julian Assange ✊ pic.twitter.com/cJIWKpUyXj
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) February 23, 2020
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