The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) officially designated WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange as a “political prisoner” on Wednesday, according to Anadolu Agency.
The motion, which drew attention to Assange’s ongoing detention and punitive actions against him, was passed with 88 votes in favour, 13 against, and 20 abstentions. The assembly highlighted the importance of a free press in democratic societies and welcomed calls for Assange’s release, recognising his role in exposing potential human rights violations and war crimes.
The resolution criticized UK authorities for failing to protect Assange’s freedom of expression and urged the US to reform its espionage laws, which have led to severe charges against him. PACE called for an impartial investigation into the allegations revealed by WikiLeaks, including those related to human rights abuses.
Assange faces charges under US espionage law that could result in life imprisonment, a situation the assembly deemed disproportionate, given that his actions focused on gathering and publishing information. PACE affirmed that these charges align with its Resolution 1900 criteria, which defines conditions for a “political prisoner.”
During the session, Irish parliamentarian Paul Gavan praised the decision as one of PACE’s “best moments,” noting the body’s failure to take stronger stands on other global human rights crises. He also commended Assange for his address to PACE’s Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, expressing strong support for efforts to secure his freedom.
Austrian parliamentarian Petra Bayr lauded Assange for his enduring courage, while Christophe Brico from Monaco emphasized the critical role of free journalism in protecting democracy and ensuring the integrity of information sources.
Julian Assange gained international attention in the 2010s for leaking classified US documents, including sensitive military records and diplomatic correspondence, which revealed various controversial actions by the US government, including a 2007 airstrike in Baghdad that killed several individuals, including two Reuters journalists.
After spending seven years in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London to avoid extradition, Assange was ejected from the diplomatic compound in 2019 and has since spent five years in a British prison battling an extradition order to the US. He was recently freed after accepting a plea deal in a federal court in the Northern Mariana Islands, where he pleaded guilty to a felony charge related to the Espionage Act for publishing military and diplomatic documents. He then returned to Australia, where he was welcomed by his wife, Stella.