Ecuador grants Julian Assange political asylum

16.08.2012
Ecuador has decided to grant Julian Assange political asylum, in a move meant to prevent the WikiLeaks founder from being extradited to Sweden where he is suspected of committing sexual offenses.

Assange decided to take refuge in Ecuador's U.K. embassy -- located in London's Belgravia district, close to Hyde Park -- in June after the U.K. Supreme Court denied his extradition appeal, allowing for him to be sent to Sweden to be questioned by the police.

The U.K. Foreign Office issued a statement saying that it was disappointed that Ecuador had offered political asylum to Assange.

Under British law, with Assange having exhausted all options of appeal, authorities are under a binding obligation to extradite him to Sweden, according to the statement. It will carry out that obligation, and the Ecuadorian government's decision on Thursday does not change that, the statement said.

The U.K. Foreign Office also added that it remains "committed to a negotiated solution that allows us to carry out our obligations under the Extradition Act."

The chance is nonexistent that the country will allow Assange to leave the embassy and travel to Ecuador.