Wikileaks founder vows to stay in embassy “even if sex claims dropped”June 19, 2013 - 09:53 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Wikileaks website founder Julian Assange has vowed to remain in the Ecuadorian embassy in London even if accusations of sex crimes are dropped, BBC News reported. He walked into the building a year ago when his appeal against extradition to Sweden for questioning on claims he has always denied was turned down. He said he still feared being sent to the US for releasing secret documents. The foreign secretary has told MPs there was no progress on the case at talks with his Ecuadorian counterpart. Speaking to journalists at the embassy in Knightsbridge, Assange said he always believed it could take between six months and two years to resolve his case. "My lawyers have advised me I should not leave the embassy because of the risk of arrest and extradition to the US," he said. He claimed there was a sealed indictment already lodged against him in the US which would lead to him being taken from the UK if he stepped outside the embassy. He said: "The strong view of my US lawyer is... I would be arrested, unless the British government gave information or guarantees that would grant me safe passage. "We know there is an ongoing investigation in the US and we know I am a target of the Federal grand jury. There is a 99.97% chance that I will be indicted. So if the Swedish government drops their request tomorrow, I still cannot leave the embassy." Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | About 173 million drams and more than 30 beneficiary funds. "The Power of One Dram" is 4 years old In June 2020, the exclusive joint corporate social responsibility initiative of Idram and IDBank "The Power of One Dram" was launched. CSTO budget “to be adjusted due to Yerevan’s non-payment of contributions” The CSTO budget for the current year requires adjustments due to the refusal of Yerevan to pay their share of contributions. Russia sends note of protest to Armenia over envoy’s trip to Ukraine’s Bucha Russia has sent a note of protest to Armenia over the visit of Vladimir Karapetyan and Tigran Ter-Margaryan to Bucha. Armenia: Protesters march to parliament, some spend the night on street The protesters did not disperse despite heavy rain that began at around 2 a.m. local time. |