Zakharova called the approval of the extradition of Assange to the United States the apotheosis of humanism

Poster by supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange . File photoMOSCOW, June 17The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, commented on the approval by the British side of the extradition of Julian Assange to the United States, calling the decision «the apotheosis of humanism and the apogee of freedom of speech.» . «The apotheosis of humanism and the apogee of freedom of speech,» Maria Zakharova pointed out. She recalled that «in the US, Assange is waiting for 175 years in prison. Just for his journalistic activities.»Nebenzya believes that the United States will keep Assange in prison until the end of his days. The Westminster Magistrates Court in London previously issued an extradition order for Assange to the United States, where he faces 175 years in prison. The Ministry of Internal Affairs had the last word on this issue. 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. on freedom of the media in Russia