Julian Assange Remains at Belmarsh Prison While Chelsea Manning Is Released With A 256k Fine

Julian Assange's health continues to decline as he is exposed to the psychological torture of his imprisonment. Sixty doctors signed a petition in December 2019 claiming he could die in prison. In February 2020, an open letter was published by 117 doctors brought attention to his "dire state of health." Assange has been living through persecution and imprisonment for over seven years.

Stella Moris, a South African lawyer, became engaged to Assange in 2017. She gave birth to two children with him while he was in the embassy. According to Moris, the two met in 2011 over legal research regarding his extradition. She claims they developed a strong bond during their time together, but now fears he will die in prison as he isn't allowed visitation and is kept in isolation. The children were able to visit their father while he was still in the embassy.

Assange spent over six years in the Embassy of Ecuador in London in an attempt to flee persecution of the Swedish, the UK, and the US. The allegations from Sweden were eventually dropped, but the Embassy of Ecuador eventually gave in to international pressure and revoked his political asylum. Ecuador released personal information about the daily life of Assange to media outlets such as CNN in an effort to publicly justify their action. He has been in HM Prison Belmarsh in London for almost a year.

In March 2020, an application to allow the bail of Assange from prison on the grounds that he may catch the COVID-19 was filed. The application was denied by the Westminster Magistrates Court. The judge believed that Assange was looking for a way to flee from his extradition hearing. Assange's extradition hearing was adjourned until April 7th and again to May 18th. His lawyer has been having difficulty communicating with him and requested an extension to September. The extension was denied.

Also in March 2020, Chelsea Manning was released from federal detention in Alexandria, Virginia. She had tried to kill herself the day before her release. The release came about under the condition that her testimony was no longer needed by the grand jury. After being released, she was charged with a $256,000 fine over her refusal to testify against Assange. She's also subject to subpoena and may be sent back to prison at any time.