Julian Assange was released by the US Federal District Court on the island of Saipan after the judge in the case approved the deal , concluded between the founder of "Wikileaks" and the US Attorney's Office. This ends the 14-year legal odyssey of Assange, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.
Assange pleads today "guilty" on charges that he published classified documents of the US armed forces, AP reported.
He pleaded guilty in a court on the island of Saipan in the U.S. territory of the Northern Mariana Islands under a deal with Justice Department prosecutors that secured his release and ended a long-running legal saga that has fueled controversy over the freedom of the press and national security.
Assange arrived in court shortly before the start of the hearing, wearing a dark suit and loose tie.
The deal allows him to return to his native Australia without being sent to an American prison. He has been in prison in the UK for the past 5 years while fighting to avoid extradition to the US on charges under the US Espionage Act, for which he could have been sentenced to years in prison.
Shortly after the start of the court hearing "Wikileaks" announced on social networks that Assange will leave for Australia in a few hours, AFP reported.