Supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange take part in a protest. File photoMONTEVIDEO, Apr 20The British justice system in the case of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange demonstrated a lack of independence, says the former consul of Ecuador in London, Fidel Narvaez. that the British justice system has not shown its independence, and this is in line with the historical relations of Great Britain's dependence on the United States in recent centuries,» he told RIA Novosti. />The transfer of Assange to the United States is politically motivated, the expert believes «Ecuadorian officials bear a huge responsibility for the fact that they decided to kill him behind Assange's back. I'm talking metaphorically. He was extradited to those who planned to kill him … to the authorities who want to take revenge on Assange and who are behind his persecution,» Narvaez added. According to him, «it is known that the CIA planned his abduction and assassination.» «This is a political prisoner whose rights have been violated, but his mental and physical condition is also being destroyed,» the source said. London's Westminster Magistrates Court on Wednesday issued an extradition order for Assange to the United States, where he faces 175 years in prison. Assange's defense has until May 18 to present their case to the Interior Minister. Journalist Julian Assange rose to prominence in 2006 in connection with his work on the WikiLeaks website, which was founded to publish classified documents. In 2010, the site released classified US military footage showing at least 18 civilians killed in the 2007 US helicopter attack in Baghdad. In 2010, the site also began publishing 250,000 US diplomatic documents. Assange, accused in Sweden in 2010 of sexual harassment and rape, has been hiding since June 2012 in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, fearing extradition. On the morning of April 11, 2019, he was detained at the request of the United States. Extradition hearings began on May 2, 2019. Shortly thereafter, the US authorities announced that they had filed new charges against Assange for 17 counts of violating the law on espionage and disclosure of classified information. London to extradite Assange to the US as a farce
