Watch Assange's address to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe live here tomorrow Oct 1, 8:30am CEST

26/09/2024 Legal Affairs and Human Rights Julian Assange

Julian Assange is to attend a parliamentary hearing in Strasbourg on Tuesday 1 October 2024 which will look at his detention and conviction and their chilling effect on human rights, ahead of a full plenary debate on this topic by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) the following day. Both events will be livestreamed.

The hearing is organised by the Assembly’s Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights in the framework of a report on this topic by Thorhildur Sunna Ævarsdóttir (Iceland, SOC). In a recent draft resolution, based on her report, the committee expressed deep concern at Mr Assange’s harsh treatment, warned of its “chilling effect” and called on the United States, a Council of Europe observer state, to investigate the alleged war crimes and human rights violations disclosed by him and Wikileaks.

The committee said it considers that the “disproportionately severe charges” brought against him by the US authorities, as well as the heavy penalties foreseen under the Espionage Act for engaging in acts of journalism, fall within the requirements set out in a 2012 Assembly resolution on the definition of a political prisoner.

The following day, on Wednesday 2 October, the Assembly – which brings together parliamentarians from the 46 Council of Europe member states – is due to debate and vote on the committee’s draft resolution.

Practical information

The hearing, which is open to the press, takes place on Tuesday 1 October in Room 1 of the Palais de l’Europe, from 8.30 a.m. to 10 a.m. CEST. It will be streamed live in English on the Assembly’s YouTube channel here (scrollable mid-stream, with instant replay). A live feed of the hearing in broadcast quality can be obtained via the EBU. Alternatively, broadcast-quality footage can also be obtained, around an hour after the hearing ends, on request, from audiovisual.coordination@coe.int. Media wishing to attend in person, where space allows, should submit requests for accreditation here, and are invited to signal their wish to attend to pace.com@coe.int before midday on Monday 30 September.

The plenary debate is due to take place in the Assembly’s debating chamber on Wednesday 2 October from 10 a.m. CEST with a final vote expected around midday. The debate can be followed via the main webstream in several languages or via the Assembly’s YouTube channel in English (scrollable mid-stream, with instant replay). Mr Assange is expected to be present in the viewing gallery.