WikiLeaks founder Assange loses extradition appeal

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has lost his final extradition appeal as the Supreme Court in London decided that the Swedish Prosecuting Authority had the right to issue the extradition order.

Arrested in December 2010, Assange and his lawyers have been battling in various courts, and having been denied by all of them, finally reached the UK Supreme Court.

While it seems that Assange, who has been confined to house arrest since having been released on bail, has no choice but to begin packing, his lawyers have been given 14 days to come up with a new tactic that could make the court reopen the case.

According to Wired, that approach would include them arguing the Vienna Convention on Law of Treaties.

As a reminder: Assange has still not been charged with any crime in Sweden, and he is currently wanted only for interrogation regarding rape allegations raised against him by two Swedish women.

He is fighting against the extradition order because he fears that the US might consequently request Sweden to extradite him for charges under its Espionage Act, because of WikiLeaks’ leakage of US diplomatic cables and military videos.