WASHINFRON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 11th April, 2019) Human Rights Watch (HRW) is waiting for more clarity on the charges against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange who was arrested in the UK earlier in the day on the US extradition request, the prominent international watchdog told Sputnik on Friday.
The US Department of Justice said Thursday it was charging Assange with conspiracy to commit computer intrusion related to a 2010 release of stolen documents provided by former US army soldier Chelsea Manning. CNN later reported that the United States is expected to bring additional charges against Assange.
"We are not commenting at this time until more information is known, and are awaiting greater clarity on the charges," the advocacy group said.
Assange was arrested in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno confirmed that his country had withdrawn the asylum it had previously granted to the WikiLeaks founder.
According to the UK court, the United States has until June 12 to submit all the papers necessary for extradition.
Assange has gained worldwide fame after WikiLeaks released a large number of files, including some on US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and other sensitive documents. He had been residing in the Ecuadorian Embassy since 2012 and expressed fear over potential extradition to the United States.
