Ecuador Embassy Cuts Off Julian Assange's Internet Access

The Ecuadorian government has stated that it is limiting Julian Assange's access to the outside world, as he has been sheltered in the embassy in London for nearly five years. Ecuadorian officials announced this decision on Wednesday, April 8, citing Assange's activities on social media. They added that Assange's online activities could upset other countries and create problems in our relations. The Ecuadorian government wrote in a message on Twitter: 'The Ecuadorian government believes that Assange's behavior through his messages on social media jeopardizes Ecuador's good relations with Britain and other EU countries.' Ecuador stated that if Assange does not remain faithful to the agreement he committed to and signed, further actions will follow. Reports indicate that in the signed agreement with Assange at the time of granting asylum, he was prohibited from sending provocative messages about other countries. The report mentions that Assange's supporters have launched a campaign on social media titled 'Let Julian Communicate.' This campaign has called on people in London to gather in front of the Ecuadorian embassy to show their support for Julian Assange and to urge diplomats to allow him access to the internet again. Julian Assange fled to the Ecuadorian embassy five years ago to avoid extradition to Sweden over a sexual assault case, where he has been living since. He has denied the allegations of assault, and during this time, his prosecution by Swedish courts has also been dropped. However, a court in London rejected Assange's request to lift his arrest warrant last February. Assange stated at that time that if he were extradited to Sweden, the Swedish government would hand him over to the United States for prosecution. Assange faced criticism from U.S. officials during the release of internal communications from the U.S. State Department and its ambassadors. Supporters view Assange as a whistleblower hero exposing government abuses of power, while opponents and critics consider him a criminal who has endangered the security of Western countries and the lives of people in many nations.