Lenín Moreno, the president of Ecuador, has confirmed Julian Assange can stay in the country’s London embassy as long as he follows certain ‘conditions’.
Assange’s asylum status will not be under threat as long as he does not talk about or interfere in politics.
If Assange fails to follow these rules and insists on voicing his political opinions on Twitter, then Mr Moreno said his government would ‘take a decision’, Deutsche Welle reported.
Lenín Moreno, the president of Ecuador (right), has confirmed Julian Assange (left) can stay in the country’s London embassy as long as he follows certain ‘conditions’
‘Let’s not forget the conditions of his asylum prevent him from speaking about politics or intervening in the politics of other countries. That’s why we cut his communication,’ the president added.
The WikiLeaks founder has remained in the country’s London embassy for almost six years with his communication system being suspended by Ecuador in March.
Mr Moreno’s interview comes amid reports that the country had bankrolled a multimillion-dollar spy operation to protect Assange.
His activities, moods, interactions with embassy staff, his legal team and other visitors were monitored by security personnel and recorded in minute detail.
For more than five years the country is said to have reportedly spent at least $5m (£3.7m) on protecting Assange but earlier this month, Mr Moreno withdrew additional security from the Ecuadorian embassy.
The operation to protect Assange previously had the approval of the then Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa and the then foreign minister Ricardo Patino.
But the Ecuadorian government have now decided that the London site ‘will maintain normal security similar to that of other Ecuadorian embassies’ going forwards.
In January Mr Moreno described Assange as an ‘inherited problem’ and ‘more than a nuisance’.
In January Mr Moreno described Assange as an ‘inherited problem’ and ‘more than a nuisance’
The 46-year-old took refuge in the small diplomatic headquarters in 2012 to avoid sexual abuse charges in Sweden, which he has always denied.
Prosecutors have since abandoned their investigation, but British authorities are still seeking his arrest for breaching bail conditions.
Mr Moreno has repeatedly hinted that he wants to remove Assange from the country’s embassy but said that he had left all decisions related to the Australian with his foreign minister, María Fernanda Espinosa, reported the Guardian.
‘I told the foreign minister she should, with complete freedom, choose how to solve the problem. And she chose that system. It wasn’t the most suitable, but I respected it,’ he said.