Third Anniversary of Ecuador Granting Political Asylum to Julian Assange

August 16 marks three years since Ecuador decided to grant political asylum to the whistleblower Julian Assange, the founder of the website WikiLeaks.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On August 16, 2012, Ecuador granted Assange asylum after weeks of consideration of evidence proving he had been a target of politically motivated harassment, thus helping him to avoid persecution by the United States, where he could face multiple espionage charges.

For three years, Ecuador was under the pressure for granting Assange the protective asylum. In the days following Assange's arrival to the country's embassy in London, Ecuador received implied threat by the British government to storm the embassy and seize Assange.

Most recently, on August 13, the UK Foreign Office tried to shift the blame for the expiration of charges against Assange from Swedish prosecutors to Ecuador.

In 2010, Swedish authorities accused, but did not charge, Assange of unlawful sexual coercion and rape. The whistleblower has denied the accusations, stating that the Swedish extradition attempts are ultimately aimed at sending him to the United States, where he faces treason charges for publishing online thousands of leaked top-secret military documents and diplomatic cables.

On August 18, the five-year statute of limitations on the last of three sexual assault charges against Assange will be reached, with previous ones being reached on August 13. The rape allegation remains enforceable until 2020.

Marking the anniversary, the supporters of the decision from the Wise Up network are planning a solidarity campaign near the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where the whistleblower is still residing. The supporters will gather at 4 p.m. local time (15:00 GMT) to say 'Thank you Ecuador!'