Family of Wikileaks founder Assange relies on “quiet diplomacy” “Wednesday” Netflix continues record hunt

The family of imprisoned Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has called on his supporters to “politely” seek his release. Assange’s mother, Christine, said on Wednesday she supports the Australian government’s “silent diplomacy” approach. All other approaches have failed so far. The 51-year-old Australian has been in a British prison since 2019 after years of refuge at an embassy in London. The US wants to secure his extradition. They accuse him of espionage. If convicted, Assange faces many years in prison.

“The involvement of diplomatic teams negotiating at a high level is the most appropriate and historically successful way to resolve the detention of Australian citizens abroad in political matters,” Australia’s AAP news agency quoted Christine Assange as saying. She expressly thanked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for his efforts. Albanese told parliament last week: “My position is clear and I have made it clear to the US government. It’s time to bring this matter to a close.”

The United States accuses Assange of stealing and publishing secret materials from military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan with US whistleblower Chelsea Manning, endangering the lives of informants. If extradited, they face up to 175 years in prison. Supporters, on the other hand, see Assange as a courageous journalist who exposed war crimes. The government in London has approved the extradition. The legal wrangling is not over yet. (sda/dpa)