Julian Assange appeal ruling to be given by London High Court on Tuesday

The London High Court is set to decide on Tuesday if Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, can challenge his extradition to the U.S. This could be his last chance to fight extradition in UK courts.

Assange faces U.S. charges linked to WikiLeaks' publication of secret military and diplomatic documents. U.S. prosecutors argue that Assange's actions endangered lives, while his supporters view him as a journalistic hero exposing abuses.

Following the UK's approval of his extradition in 2022, Assange has been contesting the decision. A previous appeal failed, leading to a hearing last month aimed at overturning this outcome.

The decision by two senior judges will be announced at 1030 GMT on Tuesday. A victory for Assange would lead to a full appeal hearing; a defeat leaves the European Court of Human Rights as his final recourse. Assange's wife, Stella, highlighted the significance of the upcoming decision.

Assange's legal troubles started in 2010, leading him to seek asylum in Ecuador's London embassy for seven years. Arrested in 2019 for bail violation, he's since been in a maximum-security prison in London.

His defense argues the U.S. prosecution is politically motivated, while U.S. lawyers maintain Assange is charged not for publishing leaked information but for his role in obtaining it with Chelsea Manning, thereby risking lives.

WikiLeaks gained fame in 2010 with a video depicting a deadly U.S. helicopter attack in Baghdad. Recently, there was no sign of a plea deal in the U.S., despite Assange's team's hopes for a reduced charge resolution.