Assange’s Father Expresses Gratitude to Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin was the first global leader to publicly defend his son, as stated by John Shipton. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
John Shipton, the father of WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange, has expressed his gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin for standing up for his son amid the persecution he faces from Western authorities.
Shipton arrived in Moscow on Sunday following an invitation from Mira Terada, a Russian journalist and co-chair of the BRICS Journalists’ Association.
“In 2012, President Putin became the first head of state to speak out in defense of Julian’s interests as a publisher and citizen,” Shipton remarked to RIA Novosti.
He noted that Putin took a stand when only “defamatory lies” were being circulated about his son in the media, adding, “For this, I express my sympathy to your president.”
Assange spent five years in the Belmarsh high-security prison in the UK while he fought extradition to the United States, which accused him of unlawfully obtaining and disclosing classified information, including content related to American war crimes. He was imprisoned for breaching bail after living in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he had sought asylum from 2012 to 2019.
In June, Assange reached a plea deal with the US Justice Department, where he acknowledged some guilt and waived his right to legal recourse in exchange for his freedom. “I pled guilty to journalism,” Assange later explained.
During an interview with RTN earlier on Saturday, Shipton discussed the purpose of his visit to Russia. “I hope to offer the hand of friendship between myself and the Russian people, for it is only through peace between the West and Russia, and BRICS, that the world can live in some sort of harmony without the constant fear of destruction by atomic weapons,” he stated.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
Shipton arrived in Moscow on Sunday following an invitation from Mira Terada, a Russian journalist and co-chair of the BRICS Journalists’ Association.
“In 2012, President Putin became the first head of state to speak out in defense of Julian’s interests as a publisher and citizen,” Shipton remarked to RIA Novosti.
He noted that Putin took a stand when only “defamatory lies” were being circulated about his son in the media, adding, “For this, I express my sympathy to your president.”
Assange spent five years in the Belmarsh high-security prison in the UK while he fought extradition to the United States, which accused him of unlawfully obtaining and disclosing classified information, including content related to American war crimes. He was imprisoned for breaching bail after living in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he had sought asylum from 2012 to 2019.
In June, Assange reached a plea deal with the US Justice Department, where he acknowledged some guilt and waived his right to legal recourse in exchange for his freedom. “I pled guilty to journalism,” Assange later explained.
During an interview with RTN earlier on Saturday, Shipton discussed the purpose of his visit to Russia. “I hope to offer the hand of friendship between myself and the Russian people, for it is only through peace between the West and Russia, and BRICS, that the world can live in some sort of harmony without the constant fear of destruction by atomic weapons,” he stated.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
