Julian Assange has returned home to his native Australia after being found guilty and released from a London prison.
There were touching scenes at Canberra airport of the Wikileaks founder kissing his wife and hugging his father, while his lawyer was visibly moved.
“Julian needs time to recover and get used to his freedom,” Stella Assange said at a press conference shortly after her husband's arrival.
For the past 14 years, Assange has been waging a legal battle against U.S. officials whom he accuses of putting lives at risk by leaking classified documents.
The 52-year-old did not attend a press conference in Canberra, instead allowing his lawyer and wife to speak on his behalf.
“We need to understand what he went through,” Ms. Assange said, adding that she needed time “for our family to become a family.”
The two married at Belmarsh Prison in London in 2022 and have two children.
In a plea deal, Julian Assange pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to obtain and disclose defense intelligence rather than the 18 conspiracy charges he originally faced.
The case centered on the mass disclosure in 2010 when the WikiLeaks website released U.S. military helicopter footage showing civilians being killed in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.
It also released thousands of classified documents suggesting that U.S. troops killed hundreds of civilians in unreported incidents during the war in Afghanistan.
The revelations became a huge story, sparking reactions from around the world and leading to intense scrutiny of America's involvement in foreign conflicts.
Assange was formally charged in the remote Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory in the Pacific, two days after leaving Belmarsh Prison.
In return, he was released to return home after already serving his sentence.
His lawyer, Jen Robinson, told the press the deal was the “criminalization of journalism” and set a “dangerous precedent”.
In response, Mrs. Assange said, “I hope the media realizes the danger of this American case against Julian.” Julian was found guilty of criminalizing Julian and gathering news and publishing information that the public was entitled to know.
His lawyers also provided details of a phone call between Assange and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that was instrumental in securing his release.
Ms Robinson said Assange had told the prime minister he had “saved his life”, adding: “I don't think that's an exaggeration.”
“It is a huge victory for Australia to stand up to its allies and demand the return of its citizens,” she said.
Mr Albanese held his own press conference on Wednesday, saying he was “very glad” the case was over, adding that the Wikileaks founder had been through “quite an ordeal”.
The prime minister has said in the past that he disagrees with everything Assange has done, but said “enough is enough” and that it is time for him to be released, making the case a priority.
Asked whether impeachment talks could affect US-Australia relations, he said: “We have a very positive relationship with the United States. I consider President Biden a friend and I think their relationship is absolutely central.” .
The U.S. State Department said its involvement in Asanji's case was very limited. The State Department said Assange, 52,'s actions put the lives of America's partners, allies and diplomats at risk, adding that the WikiLeaks disclosures had “chilled” the ability of U.S. diplomats to build relationships abroad.
