"They [Swedish prosecutors] have been investigating [the case] for several years now, but the prosecutor has chosen not to conduct an interview with Julian Assange in London without giving any reason for that decision. In our opinion the investigation could have been shut down earlier, because the evidence is not enough for going on with it," Thomas Olsson said.
Three counts of sexual assault in Sweden will expire on August 13 and August 18 as they reach their five-year statute of limitations. A separate rape accusation will remain open to prosecution until 2020.
Assange has been left with few opinions but to take refuge in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he has remained for three years since UK authorities first attempted to extradite him to Sweden over the sexual assault and rape cases.
The 44-year-old Australian national continues to deny the accusations and claims the extradition attempts are ultimately aimed at sending him to the United States, where he is likely to face espionage charges for leaking thousands of top-secret military documents and diplomatic cables.
The expiration of three sexual assault charges will not affect the self-imposed confinement of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London due to the existence of another accusation, Assange’s lawyer said.
"It is only three of four accusations that will expire, the fourth accusation will remain in place. So it [the expiry of three charges] doesn’t mean it will have any effect on Assange’s current situation," Thomas Olsson said.
On August 13 and August 18 Assange the five-year statute of limitations on three sexual assault charges will be reached, while the rape allegation remains enforceable until 2020.
In 2010, Swedish authorities accused, but did not charge, Assange of unlawful sexual coercion and rape. Since 2012, the whistleblower has been residing at the Ecuadorian embassy in London, fearing extradition by Swedish authorities to the United States where he could face espionage charges for publishing thousands of classified documents.
Stockholm insisted on questioning Assange on Swedish territory but this spring agreed to do so on the territory of the Ecuadorian embassy. However, the interrogation has not yet taken place.
