Julian Assange has returned to European soil, marking his first public appearance since being released from a UK high-security prison and returning to Australia. Speaking at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg, Assange discussed his years of incarceration following charges under the US Espionage Act. In his address, he condemned the handling of his case by the US and its allies, asserting that he was only free because he “pleaded guilty to journalism.”
The tightly controlled event saw Assange criticize the lack of effective legal remedies and speak about the toll of isolation during his five years in prison. He emphasized the importance of press freedom, warning that the criminalization of journalism is a threat to investigative reporting worldwide. Assange reiterated that journalism is “a pillar of a free and informed society.”
PACE recently labeled Assange a political prisoner and called for an inquiry into his treatment in the UK. While some disclosures by WikiLeaks were controversial, the PACE report highlighted the lack of evidence showing harm to individuals due to the leaks.