WikiLeaks whistleblower ‘sought sanctuary in Russia’
Julian Assange had just pulled off one of the biggest scoops of our times, publishing the inner workings of American diplomacy across the internet. But technology companies were cutting ties to his WikiLeaks website, cable news pundits were calling for his head and accusations of sexual assault were threatening to put him behind bars.
To avoid being extradited to Sweden over allegations that he molested a woman and raped another during a trip there in August 2010, the Australian wrote to the Russian consulate seeking a visa.
The November 30, 2010, missive is part of a larger trove of WikiLeaks emails, chat logs, financial records, secretly recorded footage and other documents leaked to the Associated Press. They provide an early hint of Mr Assange’s budding relationship with Moscow.
The former hacker’s links to the Kremlin would become increasingly salient before the 2016 United States presidential election, when the FBI says Russia’s military intelligence agency supplied WikiLeaks with stolen emails from Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman and Democratic figures.
To avoid extradition to Sweden, in June 2012 Mr Assange requested political asylum at the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he remains today, without internet access.
Representatives for Mr Assange did not respond to messages seeking details about the visa application. Kristinn Hrafnsson, a spokesman for the group, just said the AP story was “rather uninteresting”.
The Russian Embassy in London said it did not discuss the personal details of visa applicants.