Assange is currently wanted for extradition to Sweden, where he is facing allegations of rape and sexual abuse, though the details surrounding the case have been widely refuted by rape victim advocacy groups. Assange and his supporters maintain that attempts to extradite him to Sweden are part of a larger plan to have him sent to America, where he is wanted for violating national security after publishing troves of classified material.
The WikiLeaks founder entered the Ecuadorian Embassy in London on June 19, 2012, and applied for political asylum, which was granted. Since that time the building has been encircled by police waiting on stand-by to arrest him. UK efforts to detain Assange have cost the government some $10 million to date, though no budget breakdown has been provided.
On Thursday, London formally responded to the findings, which they had previously dismissed as “ridiculous.”
"The working group's opinion is deeply flawed and Mr. Assange has never been the subject of arbitrary detention," the UK Foreign Office said in their response. "His human rights have been protected throughout."
UK Foreign Office minister Hugo Swire further declared on Thursday that the UNWGAD judgement was not based on the “full facts” of the case.
