Ecuador limits Assange internet access over US election meddling

The Ecuadorian government said on Monday that Julian Assange “restricted his access to communications systems” for meddling in the US presidential election. Ecuador states that it wants to respect the principle of non-intervention in the affairs of other countries.

The Ecuadorian government also emphasizes that it will continue to stand up for everyone who has to deal with political persecution. Therefore, Assange can still reside in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. The government has apparently concluded that Assange has crossed the line between providing journalistic work and influencing political elections.

Although Ecuador speaks of a ‘restriction in access to the communication systems of the embassy’, speaks WikiLeaks just off the internet. In any case, the measure would be temporary.

The move came on Monday, shortly after the organization released multiple speeches by presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. These were speeches to Wall Street bankers for which Clinton was paid. In these speeches, the authenticity of which is currently unknown, Clinton takes an uncritical attitude to the top executives of the US financial sector, who allegedly played a significant role in fueling the 2008 financial crisis.

WikiLeaks and Assange have been targeting the Democratic side of the presidential election for several months now. In July, for example, the organization leaked nearly 20,000 emails from the party in what it considered to be an ongoing series of “Hillary leaks.” Only now is the government of Ecuador responding. Although Ecuador emphasizes in its statement that it will not give in to pressure from other countries, accuses WikiLeaks does the country on Twitter. Secretary of State John Kerry, also a Democrat, is said to have submitted the request to Ecuador.