On Tuesday, Ecuador confirmed that it had restricted the Wikileaks founder's internet access Julian Assange, citing recent leaks as affecting the United States presidential election. Thus, invoking the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of other states, he stopped internet access to the "occupant" of the country's embassy in London.
"In recent weeks, WikiLeaks has published a wealth of documents affecting the US election campaign," the country's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "Accordingly, Ecuador exercised its sovereign right by temporarily restricting access to certain posts from the private communications network within its Embassy in United Kingdom. "
According to Wikileaks, Julian Assange lost internet access this weekend, shortly after Hillary Clinton's communications with Goldman Sachs were published. On Tuesday morning, the webσελίδα reported that the country shut down the Internet at the urging of US Secretary of State John Kerry, a claim denied by both America and Ecuador.
Nevertheless, Ecuador has said it remains committed to providing political asylum to Assange, who has lived in the embassy since 2012 to avoid arrest and extradition for an alleged rape in Sweden.
"Ecuador, in accordance with its tradition of defending human rights and protecting victims of political persecution, confirms the asylum it grants to Julian Assange and reiterates its intention to ensure his life and physical integrity until he reaches a safe part," the country said.
"OR external Ecuador's policy responds to sovereign decisions on its own and does not succumb to pressure from other states."
