OREANDA-NEWS. Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London refused to temporarily release the founder of WikiLeaks Julian Assange from prison.

This was announced on March 25 by Judge Vanessa Baraitser. “After a warrant was issued for his arrest he remained unlawfully at large for many years… In my view, there are substantial grounds to believe if I released him today he would not return to face his extradition hearing,” she explained, reading out a verdict.

Earlier on the same day, Assange’s lawyers filed a petition for the release of the founder of WikiLeaks because of the spread of coronavirus in the United Kingdom. A defense representative stated that if Assange is left in prison, he will be at increased risk due to his lung disease; moreover, lawyers representing his interests will not be able to work with him.