Variety reports Swedish prosecutors have dropped their investigation into rape allegations against Julian Assange after seven years. The Swedish director of public prosecutions, Marianna Ny, explained the decision was made because her government didn’t believe the Wikileaks founder would ever return to Sweden. Assange took refuge at the Ecuadorian embassy in London in 2012, and he’s been there ever since. In a statement released Friday, Ny said “there is no reason to believe that the decision to surrender him to Sweden can be executed in the foreseeable future.” So for now, the director’s dropped the investigation, and revoked the warrant for Assange. But, should Assange ever find his way back to Sweden—say, before August 2020, when the statue of limitations expires—Ny has said the investigation can immediately resume.
Assange’s lawyers celebrated the temporary victory, but he still faces some repercussions in London.. A statement from law enforcement indicates “Westminster Magistrates’ Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Julian Assange following him failing to surrender to the court on the 29 June 2012. The Metropolitan Police Service is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the embassy.”