Julian Assange on his way to Australia

In a major breakthrough, Julian Assange is a free man and is on his way home to Australia.

Julian Assange is a free man and is on his way home to Australia.

Video shows Assange boarding a charter flight with no handcuffs, no visible prison guards or any other restraints.

The video released by WikiLeaks shows Mr Assange boarding a private plane at 5pm UK time on Monday.

The plane left London’s Stansted Airport at 6pm bound for Saipan, an island in the western Pacific Ocean. The reason Assange is flying to Saipan is so he can sign off on the plea deal in a United States territory.

In a statement, Wikileaks confirmed on Tuesday that he has already left jail after being granted bail after spending years in custody.

“He left Belmarsh maximum security prison on the morning of 24 June, after having spent 1901 days there. He was granted bail by the High Court in London and was released at Stansted airport during the afternoon, where he boarded a plane and departed the UK,’’ the statement said.

Assange is on his way home to Australia. Picture: Wikileaks/AFP

Julian Assange boards flight at London Stansted Airport at 5PM (BST) Monday June 24th. This is for everyone who worked for his freedom: thank you. Credit @wikileaks X

“After more than five years in a 2x3 metre cell, isolated 23 hours a day, he will soon reunite with his wife Stella Assange, and their children, who have only known their father from behind bars.”

The group said the result was thanks to a global campaign that spanned grass-roots organisers, press freedom campaigners, legislators and leaders from across the political spectrum, all the way to the United Nations.

“This created the space for a long period of negotiations with the US Department of Justice, leading to a deal that has not yet been formally finalised. We will provide more information as soon as possible,’’ a spokesman said.

“As he returns to Australia, we thank all who stood by us, fought for us, and remained utterly committed in the fight for his freedom.”

Assange has been pursued by US authorities for years after publishing confidential military records supplied by former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning in 2010 and 2011.

Julian Assange gestures from the window of a prison van. Picture: Daniel LEAL / AFP

He had faced 18 counts from a 2019 indictment for his alleged role in the breach that carried a max of up to 175 years in prison.

The United States will seek a 62-month sentence to reflect the amount of time that Assange has served in a high-security prison in London while he fought extradition to the US.

The deal would then credit that time served, allowing Assange to immediately return home to Australia.

Stella Assange, wife of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, speaks outside court. Picture: Peter Nicholls/Getty Images

The deal would require Assange to plead guilty to obtaining and publishing classified documents in 2010, according to court documents.

A letter filed by the US Justice Department says after the guilty plea, Assange will return home to Australia.

“We anticipate that the defendant will plead guilty to the charge in the Information of conspiring to unlawfully obtain and disseminate classified information relating to the national defense of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 793(g), and be sentenced by the Court for that offense,’’ the letter states.

“We appreciate the Court accommodating these plea and sentencing proceedings on a single day at the joint request of the parties, in light of the defendant’s opposition to traveling to the continental United States to enter his guilty plea and the proximity of this federal U.S. District Court to the defendant’s country of citizenship, Australia, to which we expect he will return at the conclusion of the proceedings.”

The letter was signed by Matthew J. McRenzie, Deputy Chief Counterintelligence and Export Control Section U.S. Department of Justice National Security Division and Shawn N. Anderson United States Attorney Districts of Guam and the NM

US President Joe Biden has alluded to a possible plea deal in recent months, which follows negotiations with Australian government officials.

A copy of the letter filed by the US Justice Department, revealing Assangle will return home to Australia. Picture: Washington Post / Justice Department

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the ALP caucus shortly after the story broke in the United States.

He had previously argued the matter had dragged on for far too long.

His office issued a brief statement confirming it was providing consular assistance to Assange.

“We are aware Australian citizen Mr Julian Assange has legal proceedings scheduled in the United States,” an Australian government spokesperson said in a statement.

“Given those proceedings are ongoing, it is not appropriate to provide further comment.

“The Australian government continues to provide consular assistance to Mr Assange.

“Prime Minister Albanese has been clear – Mr Assange’s case has dragged on for too long and there is nothing to be gained by his continued incarceration.”