WikiLeaks spokesperson Kristinn Hrafnsson told Sputnik that while the group won’t be making a public statement on the matter until the official report is released on Friday, all parties should respect whatever decision the panel makes.
Hrafnsson said he would "fail to see" how countries involved in the matter could reject the UN panel’s ruling, saying that any acts of defiance against the UN would be "extraordinary".
Amal Clooney explains who are the UN experts deciding #Assange Case https://t.co/aLR9grsYLJ More: https://t.co/Mb6gXlz7QS #UNWGAD
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) February 4, 2016
"That is what has usually happened in the past and we would expect the same thing — but it’s all hypothetical. We expect the countries to abide by the decision, whatever it will be."
Assange Subject to 'Unlawful Detention': Reports
The comments follow reports in the BBC that the UN’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ruled that Assange’s three-and-a-half year stay in London’s Ecuadorian embassy was equal to "unlawful" detention.
The reports come after a legal challenge put forward by the Australian, who claimed that he was being "arbitrarily detained" as a result of the UK’s decision not to grant him a safe passage of travel to Ecuador, where he has been granted political asylum.
Assange: I will accept arrest by British police on Friday if UN rules against me. More info: https://t.co/Mb6gXlz7QS pic.twitter.com/mffVsqKj5w
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) February 4, 2016
As a result, the 44 year-old has been living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since June 2012, and has not been able to leave the building since then.
Handy fact checker for #Assange case https://t.co/meWwiELhhh #UNWGAD
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) February 4, 2016
Despite the speculation, British officials confirmed on Thursday that they would arrest Assange if he left embassy, and would extradite him to Sweden where he faces sexual assault allegations.
"We have been consistently clear that Mr Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the UK but is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy," a government spokeswoman said.
"An allegation of rape is still outstanding and a European Arrest Warrant in place, so the UK continues to have a legal obligation to extradite Mr Assange to Sweden."
While any decision from the UN panel is not legally binding, supporters say it will help put pressure on the UK, Sweden and possibly even Australia – where Assange is a citizen – to allow the 44-year-old a safe path of travel to Ecuador, or Australia.
