WikiLeaks Expects Assange's Arrest Warrant Lifted, Passport Returned

MOSCOW (Sputnik), Daria Chernyshova — Earlier in the day, media reports emerged claiming that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Working Group on Arbitrary Detention panel had decided in Assange’s favor that detaining him was illegal, meaning that the United Kingdom and Sweden would immediately have to release him and pay compensation. The office is set to make an official statement on the issue Friday.

"In that case we would expect the Swedish and the British authorities to react immediately to lift the arrest warrant on Sweden, and for the UK authorities to return his passport," Kristinn Hrafnsson said, elaborating on a scenario in which the United Nations rules in favor of Jullian Assange.

According to Hrafnsson, it is expected that Assange should be able to travel anywhere if the United Nations were to rule in his favor.

"I would simply not want to believe that these two countries, Sweden and the UK would disregard finding of such an important UN panel," the spokesman said.

Hrafnsson noted that WikiLeaks was waiting for an official confirmation and "will wait for the actual outcome from the United Nations tomorrow morning before celebrating."

Assange has been residing at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London since 2012 out of fear of being extradited, first to Sweden where he has been accused of sexual assault, and ultimately to the United States where he could face espionage charges for publishing secret documents through his website.

On September 12, 2014, Assange submitted a complaint against London and Stockholm to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD).