Julian Assange, who was released from prison in June, made his first public appearance earlier this month to present evidence regarding the psychological effects of his imprisonment, addressing the Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France.
During his speech, Assange stated, 'I want to make it clear. I am not free because the system worked, but because after years of imprisonment, I admitted to committing journalistic crimes. I admitted to seeking information from informants. I plead guilty to informing the public about this information.' Assange's past is marked by significant turmoil; he spent five years in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London from 2012 to 2017, where he was granted asylum, and subsequently faced incarceration in a maximum-security prison in the UK from 2019 until his release in 2024.
His return to the public eye reveals profound reflections on the human condition. He remarked, 'It strips a person of their self-awareness, leaving only the raw essence of existence,' as he spoke in a trembling voice and occasionally apologized for his 'incoherent speech' and 'unpolished statements.' Throughout his address, Assange conveyed that he was not entirely prepared to recount the entirety of his experiences, which included the relentless struggle for both physical and mental survival.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe responded to his situation by releasing a report that designates him as a 'political prisoner.' The committee expressed serious concerns regarding his treatment and characterized the charges filed against him by the United States as 'disproportionate' and 'severe.' It is essential to highlight his previous disclosures during an AMA session where he stated, 'Bitcoin's true innovation is the globally verifiable proof of publication over time.
The entire system is built on this concept, and many other systems can be built on this concept. Blockchain determines history, breaking Orwell's saying.' His insights into blockchain continue to resonate within financial circles, where the impact of digital currencies and decentralized technologies is increasingly recognized..