Swedish prosecutors have dropped an investigation into an
allegation of rape against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. The move brings to
an end a 7-year legal stand-off, but UK police may still arrest him.
"Chief Prosecutor Marianne Ny has today decided to discontinue
the preliminary investigation regarding suspected rape concerning Julian
Assange," the Prosecutors' Office said in a statement.
Assange has lived in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London since
2012 after taking refuge there to avoid extradition to Sweden over the
allegation of rape. He said he feared Swedish authorities would extradite him
to the United States, where he said he could face the death penalty for
classified military and diplomatic documents released by WikiLeaks.
The rape investigation has suffered from endless procedural
complications since it began in 2010. The statute of limitations on the rape
allegation was due to expire in August 2020. Friday was the deadline for
prosecutors to renew or lift the warrant for Assange's arrest.
"This is a total victory for Julian Assange. He is now
free to leave the embassy when he wants. We have won the Assange case. He is,
of course, happy and relieved. He has been critical that it has lasted that
long," Per E Samuelsson, his lawyer in Sweden, told Swedish Radio.
While Friday's announcement means Assange is no longer under
any investigation in Sweden, there is no guarantee he will be able to walk
free.
British police said Assange is still wanted in Britain for
jumping bail and that he would be arrested should he leave the Ecuadorian
Embassy.
"Westminster Magistrates' Court issued a warrant for
the arrest of Julian Assange following him failing to surrender to the court on
the 29 June 2012," London police said in a statement. "The
Metropolitan Police Service is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave
the Embassy."
WikiLeaks tweeted after the Swedish announcement, "UK
refuses to confirm or deny whether it has already received a US extradition
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