Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has departed the UK following a US plea deal that will see him plead guilty to criminal charges yet remain free. Assange, who was charged with conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information, spent the last five years in a British prison battling extradition to the US.

According to the agreement, Assange will not serve time in US custody and will be credited for his incarceration in the UK. The plea deal is expected to be finalized in a court in the Northern Mariana Islands on Wednesday. The US Justice Department has indicated that Assange will return to Australia, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirming Assange is receiving diplomatic assistance ahead of his court appearance.

Assange, 52, faced charges for the Wikileaks files that revealed information about the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, which the US claimed endangered lives. After 1,901 days in Belmarsh prison, Assange was released at Stansted Airport on Monday and boarded a plane back to Australia. His wife, Stella Assange, expressed gratitude to supporters on social media, who have campaigned for his release for years.

The US initially sought to try Assange on 18 counts under the Espionage Act for releasing classified military records and diplomatic messages. However, the plea deal narrows this to one charge. This development follows a significant UK High Court ruling allowing Assange to appeal against extradition and challenge US assurances regarding his trial and free speech rights.

Assange has a complex legal history, including separate charges of rape and sexual assault in Sweden, which were eventually dropped. He spent seven years in Ecuador's London embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden, fearing subsequent extradition to the US. Despite his long-standing legal battles and poor health, including a stroke in prison in 2021, Assange's legal team maintains that the case against him is politically motivated.