According to the Evening Standard, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has received an Australian passport. The Australian government confirmed and Evening Standard revealed the details. Officials from the Australian department of foreign affairs and trade provided clarity and said, “Mr. Assange does have an Australian passport.”
During his time at the Ecuadorian embassy, Mr. Assange has received several high profile visitors, as noted by the Evening Standard. They further stated:
Assange’s passport had been held up by wrangling over whether it could be issued to him given that a warrant is still out for his arrest in the UK.
His UK lawyer, Jennifer Robinson, reportedly applied for a fresh passport halfway through last year.
Greg Barns, Assange’s Australian lawyer, gave credit to former foreign affairs minister Julie Bishop for her role in securing the new document.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported Barns thought she had “gone to great lengths to ensure Mr Assange’s rights as an Australian citizen were upheld by being granted a passport”.
Mr. Assange was at risk of being expelled from the Ecuadorian embassy in January after a number of questionable decisions, putting him at risk for extradition to the United States. Australian barrister Greg barnes, acting as an advisor to Mr. Assange, gave praise to Australia’s foreign minister Julie Bishop, stating that they actively worked to make sure Mr. Assange received his passport. Mr. Barnes said, “The Australian Government does have role to play in the resolution of Julian Assange’s case.”
Previously, Julian Assange broke his bail conditions in 2012 and has been on the run since. Now he has the support of Pink Floyd frontman Roger Waters and is calling for more support for Mr. Assange in Australia.
