Julian Assange is suing Ecuador for violating his rights and freedom

WIKILEAKS founder Julian Assange is launching legal action against Ecuador, whose London embassy he has been holed up in for the past six years, for violating his freedom.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange raising his fist on the balcony of the Embassy of Ecuador in London. Picture: AFP

AUSTRALIAN Julian Assange is set to launch legal action against the government of Ecuador as he continues to take refuge in the country’s London embassy.

The WikiLeaks founder, 47, was given a set of new house rules earlier this week, including cleaning his bathroom and taking better care of his cat.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange coming out on the balcony of the Ecuadorean embassy. Picture: AFP

A cat named 'James' wearing a collar and tie looks out of the window of the Ecuadorean Embassy. Picture: AFP

In a memo, it threatened to confiscate the pet if he did not look after its “wellbeing, food and hygiene”.

Ecuador blocked Assange’s internet and mobile phone access in March after “interfering in other countries’ affairs”, breaking “a written commitment” he had provided.

Protesters and supporters holding banners that read "Free Assange" outside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London. Picture: AFP

The co-founder of Wikileaks has remained at the embassy after seeking asylum to avoid extradition to Sweden over a rape allegation — the investigation was later dropped.

Assange has been in London’s Ecuador embassy since 2012, fearing extradition to the United States if he leaves.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange looks out from the balcony of the Ecuadorean embassy. Picture: AP

The news come after it was revealed the Ecuadorean government attempted to extricate the WikiLeaks founder from his embassy hideaway in London by naming him as a political counsellor to the country’s embassy in Moscow.

But British authorities vetoed his diplomatic status, effectively blocking him from taking up his new post in Russia.

Spanish former judge Baltasar Garzon, lawyer of WikiLeaks founder, Australian Julian Assange, speaks during a press conference. Picture: AFP

The files were made public this week by Ecuadorean opposition politician Paola Vintimilla, who opposes her government’s decision to grant Assange nationality.

They largely corroborate a recent Guardian newspaper report that Ecuador attempted the elaborate manoeuvre just before Christmas last year.

Julian Assange’s relationship with Ecuador is quickly deteriorating. Picture: Supplied

Russian diplomats called the story “fake news,” but the files show Assange was briefly named “political counsellor” to the Ecuadorean Embassy in Moscow with a monthly salary pegged at $2000.

Ecuador even went so far as to apply for a diplomatic ID card, the documents show, but the plan appears to have fallen apart with the British veto.