Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, returned to Australia on a charter jet after pleading guilty to charges related to publishing U.S. military secrets.
He landed in Saipan from a London prison and continued to Canberra on the same day.
His wife, Stella Assange, had already been in Australia awaiting his release.
Assange’s case, centered on leaking diplomatic cables exposing U.S. military actions, concluded with his plea in a U.S. district court in Saipan, avoiding extradition to the continental U.S. Press freedom advocates supported Assange for revealing military misconduct, including a 2007 Apache helicopter attack in Baghdad.
Australian officials facilitated Assange’s transport, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese credited his government’s efforts for securing Assange’s freedom after years of legal battles.
Assange’s future plans, likely involving continued activism, remain uncertain following the conclusion of his case.
