After Julian Assange was granted asylum and entered the Ecuadorian embassy in London, new CCTV cameras were installed and security personnel working for UC Global and Promsecurity recorded his daily activities and interactions with staff and visitors, including his legal team.[1] In a 2017 email, the surveillance was explained with suspicions that Assange was "working for the Russian intelligence services."[2] New cameras with microphones were installed in December 2017, and the installation of microphones in fire extinguishers and the women's bathroom was ordered. Other microphones were installed in decorations in the embassy. Morales arranged for the United States to have immediate access to the recordings.[3] The embassy staff had removed the toilet in the women's bathroom in June 2012 at Assange's request so he could sleep in the quiet room, which he also used to meet with his lawyers.[3][4][5]
Then Ecuadorian ambassador to the UK, Juan Falconí Puig, was unaware of the operation until a bill went to the embassy in May 2015 and then Ecuadorian foreign minister Ricardo Patiño had to explain the situation to the ambassador.[1] According to David Morales, the surveillance was also ordered by the former Ecuadorian ambassador in London, Carlos Abad.[6][7]
In April 2019, El País quoted Morales as saying that "The situation Assange is in is not easy because of his emotional state. Throughout the length of his stay, he has gone through different stages in which he was more or less in agreement with the [security and surveillance] procedures, but that is an area that does not correspond to him, but rather the client."[8] On June 20, 2019 El Pais revealed the existence of surveillance recordings and reports about Assange by UC Global. On 7 August 2019, Spain’s High Court opened proceedings inquiring about the surveillance of Assange after he filed a complaint that accused UC Global of violating his privacy and client-attorney privileges as well as committing misappropriation, bribery and money laundering.[3][9][10][11][12]
According to testimony by former employees, the material on Assange was handed over to the CIA by a member of the security service of Sheldon Adelson, the owner of the Las Vegas Sands. According to court papers seen by the Associated Press, it was alleged that Morales had passed the recordings to Zohar Lahav, described by Assange’s lawyers as a security officer at Las Vegas Sands.[13][14][15][16] In 2022, four associates of Assange filed a lawsuit against the CIA alleging their civil rights were violated when they were recorded as part of the surveillance of Assange.
^ abCollyns, Dan; Kirchgaessner, Stephanie; Harding, Luke (15 May 2018). "Revealed: Ecuador spent millions on spy operation for Julian Assange". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
^Irujo, José María (2019-11-08). "The US trail of the man whose security firm spied on Julian Assange". El País English Edition. Retrieved 2022-11-28.
^ abcIrujo, José María (2019-09-26). "Spanish security company spied on Julian Assange in London for the United States". El País English Edition. Retrieved 2022-12-17.
^"Where Julian Assange Lies in Wait—and What He's Planning Next". Vanity Fair. 2013-09-06. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
^Hollister, Sean (2013-09-07). "Julian Assange's seat of power: a renovated women's bathroom". The Verge. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
^Irujo, José María (2020-02-11). "Spaniard at center of Julian Assange spying accusations claims ambassador ordered espionage". El País English Edition. Retrieved 2022-12-17.
^"Former UC Global staff confirm Embassy surveillance operation against Julian Assange | TechTarget". ComputerWeekly.com. Retrieved 2022-12-17.
^Liñán, José Manuel Abad (2019-04-14). "The life of Julian Assange, according to the Spaniards who watched over him". El País English Edition. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
^Irujo, José María (2019-06-20). "Tapes of Spaniards' attempt to extort Julian Assange: "This material is worth €3m"". El País English Edition. Retrieved 2022-12-15.
^"Spanish court to hear testimony on whether Julian Assange was spied on". Global News. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
^Irujo, José María (2021-01-05). "New leads suggest CIA spied on Assange to secure his extradition to the US". El País English Edition. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
^"Spanish firm accused of spying on WikiLeaks founder on behalf of US". South China Morning Post. 2019-10-10. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
^Bourke, Latika (2022-08-15). "Assange lawyers sue CIA for allegedly spying on Wikileaks founder and his visitors in London". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
^"Spain: Court hears testimony on whether Assange was spied on". AP News. 2020-07-27. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
^"Yanis Varoufakis on his testimony in Spanish case against UC Global". DiEM25. 2020-10-28. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
^Irujo, José María (2020-01-21). "Three protected witnesses accuse Spanish ex-marine of spying on Julian Assange". El País English Edition. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
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