Julian Assange's Expulsion & Arrest
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defend.wikileaks.org Timeline: Julian Assange’s Expulsion & Arrest March 2017 7 March 2017 — WikiLeaks releases Vault 7, exposing CIA hacking tools Largest leak of confidential CIA documents in history, details the agency’s cyber warfare capabilities April 2017 2 April 2017 — Lenín Moreno wins runoff election to become President of Ecuador, succeeding Rafael Correa Correa, who granted Assange asylum in 2012, called the revoking of Assange’s asylum and subsequent arrest in April 2019 “one of the greatest betrayals in Latin American history” 13 April 2017 — CIA Director Mike Pompeo calls WikiLeaks a ‘non-state hostile intelligence service’ May 2017 9 May 2017— Paul Manafort flies to Ecuador to broker deals with incoming president Moreno “In at least two meetings with Mr. Manafort, Mr. Moreno and his aides discussed their desire to rid themselves of Mr. Assange…in exchange for concessions like debt relief from the United States” 24 May 2017 — Moreno assumes office as President of Ecuador February 2018 27 February 2018 — US Government officials meet with President Lenín Moreno March 2018 26 March 2018 — High-profile US SOUTHCOM officials meet with Ecuadorean Minister of Defense Patricio Zambrano to exchange ideas & reiterate U.S. commitment to the longstanding partnership 27 March 2018 — Ecuador suspends Julian Assange’s internet access, denies visitors • 4 signal jammers installed to continuously block telephone coverage and WiFi signal • Assange prevented from accessing embassy’s landline telephone network • Ecuador banned visits to further isolate Assange, including lawyers • Ecuadorian government says that the isolation is the result of Assange breaking a late 2017 agreement “not to issue messages that supposed an interference in relation to other States.” • These measures, imposing total isolation, severely aggravated the negative effects on Mr. Assange's physical and mental health 28 March 2018 — Ecuador resumes negotiations with the US on a long-postponed free trade deal May 2018 16 May 2018 — Revealed: Ecuador conducts espionage operation on Assange in the embassy • Ecuador contracts specialized security services to spy on Assange, reporting back to Ecuador and to United States authorities • Press publishes images and personal information of Assange's collected inside the embassy June 2018 27 June 2018 — 10 US Senators urge Vice President Mike Pence to raise concerns about Assange with Ecuador’s new president Lenín Moreno “it is imperative that you raise U.S. concerns with President Moreno about Ecuador’s continued support for Mr. Assange at a time when WikiLeaks continues its efforts to undermine democratic processes globally” 28 June 2018 — Pence confirms he did press Moreno over Assange’s asylum “The vice president raised the issue of Mr. Assange. It was a constructive conversation. They agreed to remain in close coordination on potential next steps going forward,” a White House official said in a statement. July 2018 13 July 2018 — The Inter-American Court on Human Rights (IACHR) issues ruling imposing obligations on Ecuador to protect Julian Assange from US extradition The ruling includes a mandatory safe process, and the obligation of states to provide safe passage to those granted asylum. 15 July 2018 — Ecuador in talks to evict Julian Assange, its ‘stone in the shoe’ “Sir Alan Duncan, the Foreign Office minister, is understood to be involved in the diplomatic effort, which comes weeks before a visit to the UK by Lenin Moreno, the new Ecuadorean president, who has called Assange a ‘hacker’, an ‘inherited problem’ and a ‘stone in the shoe’.” 21 July 2018 — Ecuador confirms it will imminently withdraw asylum for Julian Assange and hand him over to the U.K Lenín Moreno travels to London “to meet with British officials to finalize an agreement under which Ecuador will withdraw its asylum protection of Julian Assange” August 2018 24 August 2018 — Ecuador informs Assange's legal defence that it will no longer oppose his eventual extradition to the United States "The State of Ecuador believes that at this point, regarding the best interests and the well-being of Mr. Assange, the best alternative for him is to appear before the courts of justice of the United Kingdom” September 2018 20 September 2018 — US congressmen travel to Quito to press for Ecuador to withdraw Assange’s nationality [US] Senator Norma Torres asked that Assange no longer have Ecuadorian citizenship. "This is an important issue for the United States," she added. October 2018 11 October 2018 — Ecuador imposes “special protocol,” tight restrictions carrying threat of expulsion • So-called protocol, issued without explanation of its legal authority, imposes a tough and restrictive regime on communications and visits, as well as denigrating and senseless ultimatums • Throughout the protocol the government systematically invokes clauses announcing that failure to comply with the protocol shall entail the end of Mr. Assange's asylum and his expulsion from the embassy • The Protocol disregards a fundamental principle of asylum, which is that the protection only ceases when the risk in relation to which the asylum was granted comes to an end 16 October 2018 — US House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee writes to Pres. Lenín Moreno “Many of us in the United States Congress are eager to move forward in collaborating with your government on a wide array of issues […] However, in order to advance on these crucial matters, we must first resolve a significant challenge created by your predecessor, Rafael Correa – the status of Julian Assange [...] We are very concerned with Julian Assange's continued presence at your embassy in London and his receipt of Ecuadorian citizenship last year. Most recently, we were particularly disturbed to learn that your government restored Mr. Assange’s access to the Internet [...] It is clear that Mr. Assange remains a dangerous criminal and a threat to global security, and he should be brought to justice. [...] We are hopeful about developing warmer relations with your government, but feel that it will be very difficult for the United States to advance our bilateral relationship until Mr. Assange is handed over to the proper authorities” 25, 27 October 2018 — Assange applies for Protection Action: Judge refused to rule on the constitutionality of the Ecuador’s actions against Assange, saying it was a matter for the Constitutional Court, and declined to hear witnesses or accept evidence documenting the embassy’s visitor ban November 2018 16 November 2018 — Secret charges against Assange revealed 27 November 2018 — The Guardian publishes fabricated claim that Paul Manafort visited Assange in the Embassy in 2016 • WikiLeaks & Manafort both refute the claim, and Former Consul to Ecuador Fidel Narváez calls it “entirely false” • Other news outlets attempted to corroborate the story, and couldn’t • The Guardian refused to answer any questions about its sourcing or present any evidence December 2018 3 December 2018 — Revealed: The Guardian concealed third author of Manafort-Assange fabrication, Fernando Villavicencio Villavicencio, the CIA-connected advisor previously thought to potentially be The Guardian‘s source for the story, is actually listed on the article’s print edition byline. 11 December 2018 — 6 US Congressmen publish letter to Sec. Mike Pompeo concerning his 26 November meeting with Foreign Minister of Ecuador, specifically referencing Manafort allegation The letter expresses that it is "imperative" that Mr. Assange's presence in the embassy "be resolve swiftly" and expresses an expectation that the Secretary of State "will remain in close contact with Foreign Minister Valencia" in relation to Mr. Assange 21 December 2018 — UN Expert on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders urges the UK to honour the UNWGAD’s 2015 decision calling for Assange's release and compensation “The Swedish investigations have been closed for over 18 months now, and the only ground remaining for Mr. Assange’s continued deprivation of liberty is a bail violation in the UK, which is, objectively, a minor offense that cannot post facto justify the more than 6 years confinement that he has been subjected to since he sought asylum in the Embassy of Ecuador. Mr. Assange should be able to exercise his right to freedom of movement in an unhindered manner, in accordance with the human rights conventions the UK has ratified,” the experts further said. January 2019 17-20 January 2019 — US interrogates Ecuadorian diplomats, obtains documents, on pretext of fabricated Manafort-Assange meeting • US authorities requested electronic records, the visitor log book, identity documents of persons visiting Mr. Assange, audio-visual material, and reports about Mr. Assange and his visitors that are in possession of Ecuadorian authorities 23 January 2019 — Assange’s legal team files application urging IACHR to force US to reveal charges and to compel Ecuador to prevent extradition to the US February 2019 20 February 2019 — Ecuador inks $4.2 billion financing deal with IMF 28 February 2019 — Chelsea Manning reveals subpoena to testify to WikiLeaks grand jury 28 February 2019 — Ecuadorian FM Jose Valencia on “resolving” Assange’s situation: “We hope that the Assange case will be resolved as soon as possible, we’ve now had 7 years with Mr. Assange in the Ecuadorian embassy, the Ecuadorian State has done its part in complying with international law.” March 2019 8 March 2019 — Chelsea Manning imprisoned for refusing to testify in WikiLeaks grand jury investigation