Russian officials reportedly discussed plans with an Ecuadorian minister to smuggle Wikileaks founder Julian Assange from the country’s embassy in London to safe haven in Russia, according to a new report.
The Guardian reports that Ecuador’s former London consul, Fidel Narváez, served as Assange’s top ally in the ground-floor London facility where Assange has been staying for months as he faces what he calls politically-motivated charges of sexual assault and rape in Sweden.
According to The Guardian, Narváez and Russian officials discussed a plan to move Assange out of the embassy via diplomatic vehicle before eventually facilitating his travel to Russia or possibly another country.
The plan, originally set for Christmas Eve 2017, was abandoned due to thoughts it was “too risky,” according to the report. Assange’s possibility of travel to Ecuador by boat was also discussed.
Plans to move Assange were reportedly supported by other members of Ecuador’s government as well, with The Guardian reporting that the country’s intelligence chief, Rommy Vallejo, traveled to London in mid-December to oversee the operation before it was abandoned.
Four separate sources told the newspaper that the Kremlin was supportive of the plan, and added that an unidentified Russian businessman served as an intermediary between the two governments.
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Russians discussed plans to smuggle Julian Assange out of embassy in UK: report https://t.co/LbVzShpO3f pic.twitter.com/JOK9UOGnyb
— The Hill (@thehill) September 21, 2018
I'm sure somebody can rationally explain why the Kremlin wanted to execute a bonkers EXFIL plan in downtown London then grant asylum to someone they have absolutely no connection to.https://t.co/63tgtfPsiT
— John Schindler (@20committee) September 21, 2018
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