MOSCOW, August 13 (RIA Novosti) - A chance to have lunch with Julian Assange, the founder of the WikiLeaks website, which publishes classified information, is being auctioned, according to auction website Charitybuzz.
“This is your opportunity to meet and have lunch with one of the most compelling and controversial figures of our time — Julian Assange,” the website says.
The winner of the auction, who will be allowed to also take one guest, will meet Assange at the Embassy of Ecuador in London, where Assange has lived since 2012.
“Over lunch you will discuss global political and security issues. Added Bonus: security tips for your laptop or mobile device, expert advice in geopolitics, privacy and managing an organisation under fire, by Assange,” says the description.
The winner’s “ticket” cannot be either resold or re-auctioned, or transferred. The meeting will be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon date. The winner will have to present a valid passport, be subjected to Embassy of Ecuador security screening and not be affiliated with the media. Neither electronic equipment, nor photos, nor publishing an account of the experience is to be allowed without prior approval.
Bidding opened on August 12 and is to close on August 28. The estimated value of the lot is $50,000. According to the website, no bids have yet been made.
The United States is believed to be trying to get hold of Assange and get retribution for the leakage of classified documents and diplomatic cables, which is punishable by death.
In 2012, Britain’s Supreme Court ruled to extradite Assange to Sweden over alleged sex crimes, although WikiLeaks spokesman Kristinn Hrafnsson said he suspected Washington influenced the ruling. Extradition to Sweden is considered a pretext to send Assange to the United States.
Ecuador granted the 43-year-old Australian citizen asylum, and Assange took shelter in the country’s embassy in London in June 2012, although UK authorities are eager to follow through on their obligation to Sweden, denying Assange safe passage out of the embassy and putting round-the-clock security in place.
Bidding opened on August 12 and will close on August 28. The estimated value of the lot is $50,000. According to the website, no bids have yet been made.
The United States is believed to be seeking to get hold of Assange and get retribution for the leakage of classified documents and diplomatic cables, which can be punishable by a death sentence.
In 2012, Britain’s Supreme Court ruled to extradite Assange to Sweden over alleged sex crimes, although WikiLeaks spokesman Kristinn Hrafnsson said he suspected Washington’s influence over the ruling. Extradition to Sweden is deemed a pretext to send Assange to the United States.
Ecuador granted the 43-year-old Australian citizen asylum, and Assange took shelter in the country’s embassy in London in June 2012, although UK authorities are eager to follow through on their obligations to Sweden, denying Assange safe passage out of the embassy and putting in place round-the-clock security.
