Julian Assange granted Ecuadorian citizenship
Revelation comes amid diplomatic standoff with Britain

Ecuador has granted citizenship to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who remains holed up in the South American country’s embassy in London.
The country's foreign minister, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, revealed during a press conference in Quito yesterday that Australian-born Assange had been granted citizenship on 12 December.
“The Ecuadorian government is empowered to grant nationality to the protected person and thus facilitate ... his inclusion in the host state,” she said.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The move was meant to “confer legal immunity on Assange”, The Guardian reports, allowing him to leave the embassy where he has been sheltered for more than five years.
Espinosa’s announcement came hours after Britain revealed that it had denied a request from Ecuador to grant Assange diplomatic status, and once again called for the Wikileaks founder to “face justice”.
He took refuge in the embassy when Sweden sought to extradite him on rape charges, amid claims that he would face politically motivated prosecution in the US if he went to court. US attorney general Jeff Sessions has previously stated that arresting Assange is “a priority”, and The New York Times says there is a “strong possibility that the United States has issued a secret arrest and extradition warrant”.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Bluetoothing: the phenomenon driving HIV spike in Fiji
Under the Radar ‘Blood-swapping’ between drug users fuelling growing health crisis on Pacific island
-
Marisa Silver’s 6 favorite books that capture a lifetime
Feature The author recommends works by John Williams, Ian McEwan, and more
-
Book reviews: ‘We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution’ and ‘Will There Ever Be Another You’
Feature The many attempts to amend the U.S. Constitution and Patricia Lockwood’s struggle with long Covid
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of Taiwan
In the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdown
IN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American cities
Under the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctions
The Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designation
The Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations