Julian Assange, founder of secret-spilling website WikiLeaks, has been fighting to avoid extradition to Sweden, which wants to question him about allegations of rape and molestation. His latest efforts involve seeking asylum from the government of Ecuador, which is due to announce its ruling on Mr. Assange’s request on Thursday. The following are key events in Assange’s two-year-long legal saga.
2010
Aug. 20 - Swedish prosecutor issues arrest warrant for Mr. Assange based on one woman’s allegation of rape and another woman’s allegation of molestation.
Aug. 21 - Arrest warrant is withdrawn. Prosecutor Eva Finne says there appears to be insufficient evidence for allegation of rape.
Aug. 31 - Swedish police question Mr. Assange, who denies the allegations.
Sept. 1 - Sweden’s director of prosecutions, Marianne Ny, reopens rape investigation.
Sept. 27 – Mr. Assange leaves Sweden for Britain.
Nov. 18 - Stockholm court approves request to detain Mr. Assange for questioning.
Nov. 20 - Swedish police issue international arrest warrant for Mr. Assange.
Dec. 8 – Mr. Assange surrenders to police in London and is detained pending extradition hearing.
Dec. 14 – Mr. Assange is granted bail, but prosecutors appeal.
Dec. 16- High Court grants bail. Mr. Assange is released after supporters pledge 240,000 pounds ($375,000) in cash and sureties.
2011
Feb. 24 - District court rules Mr. Assange should be extradited to Sweden.
Nov. 2 - High Court rejects Mr. Assange’s appeal against extradition.
Dec. 5 – Mr. Assange granted an appeal to the Supreme Court.
2012
May 30 - Supreme Court rejects Mr. Assange’s appeal.
June 12 – Mr. Assange asks Supreme Court to reopen case.
June 14 - Supreme Court refuses to reopen case.
June 19 - Mr. Assange enters Ecuadorean embassy in London, seeking asylum.
