Former Ecuadorian diplomat rejoices over Assange's release, criticises deal as bad precedent

Fidel Navarez, the former Ecuadorian diplomat who granted Julian Assange political asylum at the Ecuadorian embassy in London, spoke to Al Jazeera from Cambridge, UK. He expressed overwhelming joy at seeing Assange free after 14 years of persecution for exposing information in the public interest. Navarez, reflecting on the decision to offer Assange asylum, noted the obvious persecution he faced since 2010, citing the secret grand jury and the treatment of Chelsea Manning. He criticised the deal Assange agreed to, stating it sets a bad precedent but acknowledged it was a better outcome than a life sentence in the US. Navarez described Assange as extraordinarily resilient and principled, hoping he would recover and continue his mission to publish the truth.

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