Assange ‘was creating a centre for spying’ at Ecuadorean embassy

THE president of Ecuador has accused Julian Assange of trying to create a “centre for spying” in the embassy that sheltered him for nearly seven years.

Lenin Moreno also said that no other country had an influence over the decision to revoke the Wikileaks founder’s asylum, which the leader claimed followed repeated violations by Assange.

The comments in an interview with The Guardian show the extent of the degradation of Assange’s relationship with the country which provided him with sanctuary.

The 47-year-old was dragged away by police in dramatic scenes on Thursday and now faces jail for breaching bail and possible extradition to the US.

Mr Moreno, who became president in 2017, said his nation’s previous government provided facilities within the embassy “to interfere in processes of other states”.

“We cannot allow our house, the house that opened its doors, to become a centre for spying,” Mr Moreno said.

“This activity violates asylum conditions. Our decision is not arbitrary but is based on international law.”

The president also made references to Assange’s apparently poor hygiene following allegations made by interior minister, Maria Paula Romo, which included Assange “putting faeces on the walls”.

Jennifer Robinson – Assange’s lawyer – disputed the claims when she appeared on Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday. “Ecuador has been making some pretty outrageous allegations over the past few days to justify what was an unlawful and extraordinary act in allowing British police to come inside an embassy,” she said.

Ms Robinson also said that Assange’s fears of a US extradition threat were proved correct this week after allegations that he conspired with former army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to break into a classified government computer.

Assange faces up to 12 months in prison after being found guilty of breaching his bail conditions when he entered the Ecuadorean embassy in 2012, having lost his battle against extradition to Sweden, where he faced allegations including rape.

Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, has joined Assange’s supporters in saying he should be protected against extradition to the US because he exposed evidence of “atrocities” in Iraq and Afghanistan.

More than 70 MPS have also urged the Government to ensure Assange faces Swedish authorities if they request his extradition.