Sweden’s Top Court Gives Julian Assange the Chance to Appeal Arrest Order

Sweden’s Supreme Court has given WikiLeaks figure Julian Assange the green light to appeal allegations of sexual assault stemming from two incidents that allegedly took place in the town of Enköping and in Stockholm in 2010.

The claims, about which Assange has maintained his innocence, introduced the potential threat of extradition to Sweden and the U.S. that compelled him to seek asylum in Ecuador’s embassy in London nearly three years ago. Whether or not this latest development represents a shift in Assange’s fortunes remains to be seen.

Al-Jazeera America brought word of the Swedish court’s decision Tuesday:

Even if Sweden drops the investigation, he faces arrest by British police for jumping bail granted while the British courts considered the European arrest warrant issued by Sweden.

“The Supreme Court grants leave to appeal in the matter regarding the arrest,” the court said in statement, which provided no date for when the appeal will be heard.

In November, Sweden’s appeals court denied an earlier appeal attempt by Assange. In March, however, prosecutors reconsidered their previous demand that he return to Sweden for questioning and agreed that he could conduct that step of the process in London.

–Posted by Kasia Anderson