Office of the Mexican President

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador entering to one of his press conferences at Mexico's National Palace in Mexico City.

MEXICO CITY — The founder of Wikileaks, accused of publishing classified government information in the U.S. and other countries, avoided his extradition from the United Kingdom to American soil. And while he still faces justice in England, Mexico’s president is offering him asylum.

Julian Assange, an Australian citizen and mastermind behind Wikileaks, was arrested in 2019 in London.

A UK judge blocked the United States’ request for extradition over concerns of Assange’s mental health. 

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador says he celebrates Britain’s decision, as he considers Assange a journalist who deserves a chance to be pardoned.

López Obrador says Mexico will request the UK use its authorization to grant Assange political asylum in Mexico.

Mexico has a rich history of ideologists, politicians and refugees from all over the world looking for protection, and the president says Assange deserves it, too.