Assange Remains 'Resilient' In Detention In UK - WikiLeaks Editor-in-Chief

Julian Assange, the co-founder of WikiLeaks whistleblowing website, detained in a high-security prison in London, remains "resilient," as he knows he is innocent, Kristinn Hrafnsson, the editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks, told reporters after visiting Assange in prison

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 07th May, 2019) Julian Assange, the co-founder of WikiLeaks whistleblowing website, detained in a high-security prison in London, remains "resilient," as he knows he is innocent, Kristinn Hrafnsson, the editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks, told reporters after visiting Assange in prison.

Assange, who was arrested in the UK capital on April 11, was sentenced to 50 weeks in jail last week for jumping his bail back in 2012, when he took refuge inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London to avoid extradition to Sweden over a sexual assault investigation that has since been dropped. At the same time, the United States is seeking Assange's extradition on charges of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion.

"This is no justice, this is an abomination ... Julian Assange is bent, but not broken. He's an extremely resilient person, and I want you to think about the fact that such resilience usually comes from the fact that he knows that he is innocent," Hrafnsson said.

The WikiLeaks editor-in-chief said he was shocked to see Assange in Belmarsh high-security prison, allowed to walk outside the camera only for half an hour every day. Assange has "lost weight," but his spirit remains strong, Hrafnsson said.

Hrafnsson came to visit Assange with Pamela Anderson, who also made a short statement for the reporters, saying it was "very difficult to see Julian."

"He does not deserve to be in a super max prison. He has never committed a violent act. He's an innocent person," Anderson said.

Hrafnsson stressed that Assange's situation was "life and death."

WikiLeaks said in April the United States might be building an espionage case against Assange. This charge carries death penalty as a maximum potential sentence.