The Ecuadorian embassy in London will expel WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange from the building within “hours to days,” the whistleblowing organization reported, citing a “high-level source.”
Assange has been holed up in the building since 2012, when he applied for asylum there to avoid being extradited to Sweden to face sexual assault charges. Assange has maintained his innocence in the Swedish case.
“A high level source within the Ecuadorian state has told @WikiLeaks that Julian Assange will be expelled within ‘hours to days,’” WikiLeaks tweeted Thursday night.
Earlier this week, Ecuadorian President Lenín Moreno accused Assange of repeatedly violating the terms of his asylum in the embassy while speaking to radio broadcasters in the country.
Moreno referenced leaked personal photos that have circulated online, but stopped short of accusing Assange of circulating the pictures.
“Photos of my bedroom, what I eat and how my wife and daughters and friends dance [have circulated],” he said, The Guardian reported.
“We should ensure Mr. Assange’s life is not at risk but he’s violated the agreement we have with him so many times,” Moreno said, according to the report.
WikiLeaks, meanwhile, blamed Ecuador’s souring relationship with Assange on its reporting of the so-called “Ina Papers.”
The scandal involving the papers alleged Moreno enriched himself through an offshore account in Panama. Moreno denies the allegations.
