IN FULL: Julian Assange makes first public statement since prison release

Julian Assange says he was freed after years of incarceration because he “pled guilty to journalism“. “I am not free today because the system worked,“ the Australian WikiLeaks founder said during an address to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France, on Tuesday — his first public remarks since he was released from prison. He has been giving evidence to its Parliamentary Assembly, which includes parliamentarians from 46 European countries, on his detention and conviction and their effects on human rights. Read more: SBS News is Australia’s trusted news source for the latest news from Australia and across the world. You can also: Subscribe to the SBS News YouTube channel: @SBSNews Follow SBS News on Instagram: Follow SBS News on TikTok: @sbsnews_a