Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has denied that he filed for an asylum request to France.
According to the Guardian, Assange's defence team director Baltasar Garzon said that the Wikileaks founder's open letter to French President Francois Hollande had only expressed his willingness "to be hosted in France if and only if an initiative was taken by the competent authorities".
Assange also said in his letter that he had not seen his youngest child or the child's mother, who are both French, for five years.
Hollande's office had earlier issued a statement, denying Assange's asylum request. The French President's office said that it could not "act on the request" and that Assange was not in immediate danger.
The Australian has been living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since June 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app