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Assange Seeks Asylum in ‘Major’ European Country

© REUTERS / Stefan WermuthA supporter of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange holds a placard during a gathering outside the Ecuador embassy in London, Britain June 19, 2015
A supporter of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange holds a placard during a gathering outside the Ecuador embassy in London, Britain June 19, 2015 - Sputnik International
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According to WikiLeaks founder spokesman Gavin MacFadyen, Julian Assange would be happy to receive political asylum in some "major" European country.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange - Sputnik International
Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite? France Rejects Political Asylum to Assange
LONDON (Sputnik) WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange would be happy to receive political asylum in some "major" European country, the whistleblower’s friend and spokesman Gavin MacFadyen told RIA Novosti Friday.

"I think Mr. Assange would welcome an offer of Asylum in a major European power, while at the same time being very grateful for the protection of the Ecuadorian government," MacFadyen said.

On Thursday, a number of French public figures, including film director Jacques Audiard, actors Vincent Cassel and Mathieu Kassovitz and former footballer Eric Cantona, signed a petition calling on French President Francois Hollande to grant political asylum to whistleblowers Julian Assange and Edward Snowden.

Earlier on Friday, Assange himself addressed Hollande in an open letter asking him for an asylum, but the presidential press service said in a statement that France has declined this request.

"I haven't had a chance to discuss these developments today with Mr. Assange, but I'm sure he's very grateful for the support of the prominent intellectuals, artists and political figures in France against the injustice of his incarceration in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London," MacFadyen said.

In 2006, Assange, an Australian national, launched the WikiLeaks website, through which he has revealed millions of classified diplomatic documents from around the world.

In 2010, Swedish authorities accused, but did not charge him of unlawful coercion and rape. Since 2012, the whistleblower has been residing at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, fearing extradition to the United States where he could face espionage charges.

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