Ecuador suspends Assange’s internet following UK attack and support of Spanish rebels

Ecuador suspended internet access for Julian Assange Wednesday for social media posts supporting Spanish separatists and an attack on Britain for expelling Russian diplomats.

Julian Assange

According to the ministry of foreign affairs, Assange’s recent posts violate a December agreement in which he pledged to refrain from attacking foreign governments.

“Because of the violation of this agreement and because of our interest in maintaining good relations with Great Britain and other members of the European Union (EU), Ecuador has suspended internet access to Mr. Assange,” the ministry said in a press release.

In addition, President Lenin Moreno said other measures may be taken to assure that Assange cannot use Ecuador’s British embassy to launch social media attacks. Assange was granted political asylum by Ecuador in 2012 and has lived in the embassy ever since. Assange is subject to arrest by British police if he leaves the embassy.

Assange’s recent comments repeat earlier support for the Catalan separatist movement and criticized Britain for its expulsion of Russian diplomats following the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter.

The suspension of internet rights comes a day after Britain’s EU ambassador Alan Duncan described Assange as a “small miserable worm” in comments before Parliament. Duncan said it is simply “a matter of time” before Assange will be forced to surrender to British justice.