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THE government rejected a UN report yesterday which concluded that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange had been subjected to “arbitrary detention” at the Ecuadorian embassy.
Mr Assange sought sanctuary at the embassy in 2012 to avoid arrest and extradition to Sweden, where he faces allegations of sexual assault.
He claims that, if sent to Sweden, he will be passed on to the United States to be quizzed over the activities of WikiLeaks on suspicion of espionage.
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond insisted Mr Assange was “hiding from justice.”
He spoke out after UN experts ruled that Mr Assange was being “arbitrarily detained” in the embassy and called for him to be paid compensation.
Seong Phil Hong, who heads the UN working group on arbitrary detention, said it considered that “the various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention.
“The working group maintains that the arbitrary detention of Mr Assange should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected and that he should be entitled to an enforceable right to compensation.”
But Mr Hammond rejected the decision, dismissing the body from which it came as “a group made up of lay people and not lawyers.”
He said: “Julian Assange is a fugitive from justice. He is hiding from justice in the Ecuadorian embassy.
“He can come out any time he chooses … But he will have to face justice in Sweden if he chooses to do so.”
However, despite the UN panel’s findings, the WikiLeaks founder is unlikely to leave the embassy any time soon.
The Swedish Prosecution Authority said yesterday that the statement from the UN group had “no formal impact” on its ongoing investigation, and the Metropolitan Police reiterated that it would make “every effort” to arrest Mr Assange should he leave the embassy.
Giving a press conference via Skype, Mr Assange said he welcomed the fact that his detention had now been formally ruled unlawful and attacked Mr Hammond’s comments as “beneath” the minister’s stature and insulting to the UN.
