Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, is now free, according to the whistleblower platform WikiLeaks. Assange has left the high-security prison near London, where he had been held for five years, and has departed from Great Britain. This announcement came late Tuesday night.
Shortly before this news, court documents revealed that Assange had reached a plea deal with the US justice system. Photos and videos show him boarding a plane at London Stansted Airport.
Assange's agreement with the US Department of Justice involves him pleading partially guilty in the espionage case. In exchange, he will avoid further imprisonment in the US.
The 52-year-old Australian has agreed to plead guilty to a single count of conspiracy to obtain and disclose classified US defense documents. This agreement still needs court approval.
Assange is scheduled to appear before a court on Wednesday in the Mariana Islands, a remote US territory in the western Pacific, north of his homeland, Australia.
Following this, he will travel to Australia. US media reports suggest that Assange will be sentenced to just over five years in prison, a term he has already served in the UK.
Julian Assange's wife, Stella, has called on his supporters to help him post-release. "We intend to set up an emergency fund for Julian's health and recovery," she said in a video posted on YouTube Tuesday night.
"I ask you, if you can, to contribute and help us transition to this new phase of Julian's freedom," she urged.
The video was reportedly recorded on June 19, with Stella standing in front of London's Belmarsh prison, where Assange had been imprisoned for more than five years. WikiLeaks chief Kristinn Hrafnsson added, "If you see this, it means he is out."
Assange's mother, Christine Assange, expressed her relief: "I am grateful that my son's ordeal is finally coming to an end," she told Australian broadcaster ABC. "This shows how important and powerful quiet diplomacy is."
Assange's father, John Shipton, said everything indicates that his son will be able to return to Australia: "As far as I understand, Julian will be able to lead a normal life with his family and his wife Stella."
He thanked all supporters, especially Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who had advocated for a resolution. The Prime Minister has not yet made any public statements.
The US government accused Assange of stealing and publishing classified material from military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan with whistleblower Chelsea Manning, endangering the lives of US informants.
Assange's supporters argue that he was targeted by the Washington judiciary for exposing US war crimes. Without the plea deal, Assange could have faced up to 175 years in prison for espionage.