(Image source from: x.com/wikileaks)

Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, finally returned to his homeland of Australia on Wednesday, after a grueling legal battle that had spanned over 14 years. Greeted by his wife, Stella, his father, John Shipton, and his devoted followers in Canberra, Assange disembarked from a private jet, waving to the media and the crowd before embracing his loved ones. His wife, visibly emotional, described her feelings as a mix of elation, excitement, and exhaustion during a live YouTube stream prior to his arrival, expressing both nervousness and excitement about reuniting with him at the airport. Earlier that day, a US judge had freed Assange in a plea deal, bringing an end to the legal saga that had long ensnared the WikiLeaks founder, who faced charges for revealing sensitive military information. With this decision, the court had finally granted Assange his freedom, allowing him to walk out of the courtroom as a free man.

Touchdown!

After enduring nearly 14 years of arbitrary detention in the UK, 5 years in maximum security prison, for his groundbreaking publishing work with @wikileaks, Julian Assange has arrived home on Australian soil.

Free at last. #FreedomFlight pic.twitter.com/kbjjG9PSIo

— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) June 26, 2024

The decision by the United States to offer a plea agreement in the case of Julian Assange is a positive step forward. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed his approval, stating that this development is a welcome one. The Prime Minister acknowledges that the prolonged legal proceedings have gone on for far too long and that there is no further benefit to be gained from Assange's continued imprisonment. The government's stance reflects a desire to find a resolution to this long-standing issue.

JULIAN ASSANGE IS FREE!!

Watch here: https://t.co/7PlI9fnSMG#AssangeFreed #JournalismIsNotACrime pic.twitter.com/Kpbh63CCCB

— Free Assange - #FreeAssange (@FreeAssangeNews) June 26, 2024