News - Julian Assange released after deal with US authorities, case against him dropped

The founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, pleaded guilty in an American court to publishing military secrets, after which he was released, according to the previously reached agreements with the US authorities, BBC reports. The hearing took place in the Federal District Court of the Northern Mariana Islands (US territory) on the island of Saipan in the Pacific Ocean, where Assange arrived from London. Judge Ramona Manglona found Assange guilty of conspiracy to obtain and disclose classified national defense information, but said it would be fair and reasonable to count Assange's 62 months in Belmarsh maximum security prison in London as he fights extradition to the US. The more serious charges, which carried a long prison term, were dropped. The case against Assange was dismissed, and the American authorities withdrew their extradition request. Julian Assange was released from Belmarsh prison on Monday and then flew to Bangkok by private plane and then to the Northern Mariana Islands. US prosecutors asked the judge in Saipan to hold a hearing and make a ruling shortly after Assange pleaded guilty. The territory of the Northern Mariana Islands was not chosen randomly for this deal. As the court documents say, Assange did not want to plead guilty on the mainland. In addition, the island of Saipan is located relatively close—about 3,200 km—from Australia, where the founder of WikiLeaks has gone. Assange did not make statements to the press and flew to Canberra, the capital of Australia, after the hearing.