Swedish Prosecutors May Question Assange in London Over Sex Crimes Charges

Swedish prosecutors have offered to question Julian Assange in London over allegations of sexual misconduct and rape that have been leveled against him, Reuters reports. The lawyers of the WikiLeaks co-founder and free speech activist have said that he has welcomed the request, but that it will take time to organize the meeting. Prosecutors had previously claimed that it would be unlawful to speak to Assange outside Sweden.

"If Assange gives his consent, the prosecutor will promptly submit a request for legal assistance to the British authorities to further continue the investigation," the Swedish Prosecution Authority said in a statement published Friday on its website. Prosecutors also note that they would ask Assange to provide his DNA via a swab.

The statement notes that Assange's personal approval is needed in order for prosecutors to question him, "as English law states that a person being interviewed through the use of international legal assistance in a criminal case must also provide his or her consent." The statement adds that "a request will also be sent to the Ecuadorian authorities regarding permission to perform investigative measures at the country’s embassy in London."

Prosecutors had previously refused the idea of traveling to London to question Assange, who is being sheltered from extradition in the Ecuadorian Embassy. Lead prosecutor Marianne Ny noted that that the change in position was related to the fact that some of the crimes Assange has been accused of will reach their statute of limitations in August.

"My view has always been that to perform an interview with him at the Ecuadorian embassy in London would lower the quality of the interview, and that he would need to be present in Sweden in any case should there be a trial in the future. This assessment remains unchanged. Now that time is of the essence, I have viewed it therefore necessary to accept such deficiencies to the investigation and likewise take the risk that the interview does not move the case forward, particularly as there are no other measures on offer without Assange being present in Sweden," Ny noted.

The Australian journalist has been residing in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London since 2012 to evade extradition to Sweden, where he was accused of sexually assaulting two women in a case brought against him in 2010, the same year that WikiLeaks began publishing US military and diplomatic documents. Assange has repeatedly denied the accusations, saying they are politically motivated.

In the United States, Assange is wanted over the disclosure of the documents through WikiLeaks, which have provided insight into the inner workings of the US government, and caused a great deal of embarrassment to the US and other governments since that time.