GENEVA – A U.N. human rights expert is calling on Sweden and Britain to follow the recommendation by a U.N. panel to allow freedom of movement for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.
Alfred de Zayas says the countries should set a “good example” and follow the finding announced Feb. 5 by the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention that Assange should be free to leave the Ecuadorean embassy in London.
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Authorities in Britain and Sweden have rejected the finding, saying Assange has detained himself by seeking refuge in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London after facing allegations of sexual misconduct in Sweden. They insist he will be arrested if he leaves.
De Zayas said in a statement Monday that the non-binding international order requires a “consistent and uniform” application of international law.