'End of democracy': Protestors speak outside the UK High Court on Julian Assange verdict

Julian Assange has avoided immediate extradition from the United Kingdom to the United States, after the UK High Court ruled to allow the 52-year-old to lodge an appeal on the matter if the United States fails to offer certain assurances.

President of the King’s Bench Division Dame Victoria Sharp, and Mr Justice Johnson ruled on Tuesday to give the Government of the United States three weeks to make satisfactory assurances that would address the grounds of appeal on which it ruled Mr Assange had a real prospect of success.

The assurances are that Mr Assange is permitted to rely on the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, (which protects free speech), that he is not prejudiced at trial by reason of his nationality, that he is afforded the same First Amendment protections as a United States citizen and that the death penalty is not imposed.

For the past five years, Mr Assange has fought against extradition to the United States, where he faces criminal charges related to the release of hundreds of thousands of classified military documents.