“It is natural that the Ecuadorian authorities would use their influence to open up the discussion, because Sweden is not honoring international treaties and the rights of Ecuador’s asylum status to Julian Assange, neither is the United Kingdom. So it is natural that this is this venue,” Kristinn Hrafnsson told Sputnik.
On Monday, Ecuador’s envoy to the UN Maria Fernanda Espinosa told Sputnik that the country’s mission to the UN is preparing a side event in the framework of the UN’s 28th Human Rights Council Session to deal with the case of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange who is wanted in Sweden and the United States.
“I hope it will lead to a solution, that Sweden will honor its obligation to international treaties and move the case forward,” Hrafnsson said adding that it is a gross violation of human rights “to leave an individual in limbo”, as has been the case with Julian Assange.
The WikiLeaks spokesperson stressed that the Swedish prosecutors have had an offer on the table long enough and could have interviewed Assange years ago either in person, or via a video link, as Ecuador has offered its embassy as a venue for the questioning.
“That needs to go forward and Sweden needs to recognize that Julian Assange is a refugee by all definitions of international treaties,” Hrafnsson stated. “You have to keep in mind that Julian Assange has not been charged with any crime.”
The government of Sweden has agreed to study Ecuador’s proposal to reduce Assange’s preventive detention and will respond before July.
Sweden has rejected the second proposal but agreed to study the first in the period given by the UPR which lasts until July.
The proposal reflects Ecuador’s interest in breaking the deadlock on the situation with Assange, who has been a refugee in the Ecuadorean embassy in London for over two years.
