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| Rape allegations: TIMELINE and details of Sweden's case against Julian Assange | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The Swedish Public Prosecutor announced Monday that the case of alleged rape against Julian Assange dating back to 2010 was now reopened and that authorities were seeking his extradition – but what exactly is he accused of? | The Swedish Public Prosecutor announced Monday that the case of alleged rape against Julian Assange dating back to 2010 was now reopened and that authorities were seeking his extradition – but what exactly is he accused of? |
| In 2010, two women, dubbed ‘AA’ and ‘SW,’ claimed they had sexual encounters with Julian Assange which, following interviews with police regarding the risk of contracting STIs, were determined to be potentially criminal in nature. | In 2010, two women, dubbed ‘AA’ and ‘SW,’ claimed they had sexual encounters with Julian Assange which, following interviews with police regarding the risk of contracting STIs, were determined to be potentially criminal in nature. |
| SW met with Assange on August 16, 2010, at a talk in Stockholm. | SW met with Assange on August 16, 2010, at a talk in Stockholm. |
| “We had consensual sexual intercourse on four or five occasions,” Assange said. “Her words, her expressions and her physical reactions made it clear to me that she encouraged and enjoyed our interactions.” | “We had consensual sexual intercourse on four or five occasions,” Assange said. “Her words, her expressions and her physical reactions made it clear to me that she encouraged and enjoyed our interactions.” |
| According to her statement, she was half asleep and didn't have the energy to insist, once again, that Assange wear a condom having raised the issue multiple times during their affair together. | According to her statement, she was half asleep and didn't have the energy to insist, once again, that Assange wear a condom having raised the issue multiple times during their affair together. |
| SW reportedly did not wish to press charges against Assange and that it was the “police who made up the charges [sic].” | SW reportedly did not wish to press charges against Assange and that it was the “police who made up the charges [sic].” |
| Prior to his sexual encounter with SW, Assange allegedly had sexual relations with AA, which she described as “fast” and in which she claimed Assange was rough and impatient, again refusing to wear a condom, at least initially. | Prior to his sexual encounter with SW, Assange allegedly had sexual relations with AA, which she described as “fast” and in which she claimed Assange was rough and impatient, again refusing to wear a condom, at least initially. |
| “Anna states that she had consented to have sex with Assange, but that she would not have done so if she had known that he was not wearing a condom,” the police interview reads. | “Anna states that she had consented to have sex with Assange, but that she would not have done so if she had known that he was not wearing a condom,” the police interview reads. |
| Assange and his legal team repeatedly offered to travel to Sweden for questioning on condition that the government could guarantee he would not be extradited to the US. In addition, he also repeatedly offered to be questioned in London. | Assange and his legal team repeatedly offered to travel to Sweden for questioning on condition that the government could guarantee he would not be extradited to the US. In addition, he also repeatedly offered to be questioned in London. |
| At one point in the protracted affair Sweden tried to wash its hands of its attempts to bring Assange to justice but it was stopped from doing so by UK authorities. | At one point in the protracted affair Sweden tried to wash its hands of its attempts to bring Assange to justice but it was stopped from doing so by UK authorities. |
| Here, RT.com looks at the timelines of events which let to Monday’s decision to reopen the case. | Here, RT.com looks at the timelines of events which let to Monday’s decision to reopen the case. |
| Timeline of events | Timeline of events |
| August 20, 2010 | August 20, 2010 |
| A 26-year-old living in Enköping and a 31-year-old living in Stockholm accused WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange of having unprotected sex with them which surpassed the level of consent they had given him. | A 26-year-old living in Enköping and a 31-year-old living in Stockholm accused WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange of having unprotected sex with them which surpassed the level of consent they had given him. |
| After an a preliminary investigation, then-Chief Public Prosecutor Eva Finné declared, “I don't think there is reason to suspect that he has committed rape,” though Assange remained under suspicion of molestation. | After an a preliminary investigation, then-Chief Public Prosecutor Eva Finné declared, “I don't think there is reason to suspect that he has committed rape,” though Assange remained under suspicion of molestation. |
| The investigation was suspended on August 25 but the pair's lawyer appealed the prosecutor's decision to terminate part of the investigation and the Director of Public Prosecution, Marianne Ny reinstated the primary investigation soon after on September 1, 2010. | The investigation was suspended on August 25 but the pair's lawyer appealed the prosecutor's decision to terminate part of the investigation and the Director of Public Prosecution, Marianne Ny reinstated the primary investigation soon after on September 1, 2010. |
| Assange left Sweden for the UK on September 27, 2010. | Assange left Sweden for the UK on September 27, 2010. |
| An arrest warrant for Assange was issued on November 18, 2010 by Ny on suspicion of rape, three counts of sexual molestation and one count of unlawful coercion. A European Arrest Warrant was issued by the Stockholm District Court, though the warrant was appealed and lowered to suspicion of rape of a lesser degree while one of the charges of molestation was also dropped. | An arrest warrant for Assange was issued on November 18, 2010 by Ny on suspicion of rape, three counts of sexual molestation and one count of unlawful coercion. A European Arrest Warrant was issued by the Stockholm District Court, though the warrant was appealed and lowered to suspicion of rape of a lesser degree while one of the charges of molestation was also dropped. |
| Assange's legal team argued that the use of the word “rape” was a mistranslation from Swedish and that the allegations made by the women did not fall under the English or European legal definitions of rape. | Assange's legal team argued that the use of the word “rape” was a mistranslation from Swedish and that the allegations made by the women did not fall under the English or European legal definitions of rape. |
| An extradition hearing took place in February 2011 and the extradition warrant was upheld on the 24th of that month and again later in November 2011 by the High Court on appeal. In December, Assange was refused permission to appeal the decision in the British Supreme Court. | An extradition hearing took place in February 2011 and the extradition warrant was upheld on the 24th of that month and again later in November 2011 by the High Court on appeal. In December, Assange was refused permission to appeal the decision in the British Supreme Court. |
| Assange then sought refuge at Ecuador's Embassy in London on June 19, 2012. | Assange then sought refuge at Ecuador's Embassy in London on June 19, 2012. |
| In the months and years that followed, Assange's legal team filed multiple requests to dismiss his detention, to force Swedish prosecutors into action to either continue or drop the case, and finally, to have the decision to reopen the case overruled. | In the months and years that followed, Assange's legal team filed multiple requests to dismiss his detention, to force Swedish prosecutors into action to either continue or drop the case, and finally, to have the decision to reopen the case overruled. |
| In 2013, Sweden attempted to drop the extradition but was prevented from doing so by the English Crown Prosecution Service. | In 2013, Sweden attempted to drop the extradition but was prevented from doing so by the English Crown Prosecution Service. |
| On November 20, 2014, the Swedish Court of Appeal refused the Assange team's request to have the case dismissed. | On November 20, 2014, the Swedish Court of Appeal refused the Assange team's request to have the case dismissed. |
| Later, in August 2015, the statute of limitations ran out for the lesser charges of molestation and unlawful coercion. The rape allegation would not be subject to the statute of limitations until 2020, however. Chief Prosecutor Ingrid Isgren interviewed Assange in relation to this charge in November 2016. | Later, in August 2015, the statute of limitations ran out for the lesser charges of molestation and unlawful coercion. The rape allegation would not be subject to the statute of limitations until 2020, however. Chief Prosecutor Ingrid Isgren interviewed Assange in relation to this charge in November 2016. |
| On May 19, 2017 the Swedish chief prosecutor applied to rescind the arrest warrant for Assange, effectively ending the investigation. | On May 19, 2017 the Swedish chief prosecutor applied to rescind the arrest warrant for Assange, effectively ending the investigation. |
| A little over a year later, following worsening relations with the Ecuadorian government, Assange’s asylum was revoked and British police were invited into the nation’s London embassy to arrest the whistleblower on April 11, 2019. Immediately after his arrest, the lawyer of Assange’s two accusers announced that she would request the case be reopened. | A little over a year later, following worsening relations with the Ecuadorian government, Assange’s asylum was revoked and British police were invited into the nation’s London embassy to arrest the whistleblower on April 11, 2019. Immediately after his arrest, the lawyer of Assange’s two accusers announced that she would request the case be reopened. |
| On Monday, May 13, the Swedish Prosecutor’s office announced that the case was officially reopened and that it would seek Assange’s extradition to face trial. | On Monday, May 13, the Swedish Prosecutor’s office announced that the case was officially reopened and that it would seek Assange’s extradition to face trial. |
| Meanwhile the US is also seeking to extradite the whistleblower on charges that he conspired with Chelsea Manning to hack a Pentagon computer and steal state secrets. | Meanwhile the US is also seeking to extradite the whistleblower on charges that he conspired with Chelsea Manning to hack a Pentagon computer and steal state secrets. |
| The Swedish prosecutor said that it is up to UK authorities whether the Swedish or US extradition requests take priority. Assange potentially faces the death penalty if convicted of the charges he faces in the United States. | The Swedish prosecutor said that it is up to UK authorities whether the Swedish or US extradition requests take priority. Assange potentially faces the death penalty if convicted of the charges he faces in the United States. |
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