The diplomat said at a news briefing on Wednesday that these countries’ actions are aimed at “annihilating” the journalist.

According to Zakharova, all this is not about some double standards or defiance of lofty principles and ideals.

“It is about the annihilation of an individual, revenge for his stance, for his courage and for the fact that he deemed it necessary, apparently aware of the potential risks, to share with the world some crucial information that shed light on the lies and deceit committed by a number of States,” she said.

The Russian spokeswoman warned that Assange’s health appears to be deteriorating significantly and his partner, Stella Moris, informed in recent days that the Australian cyber-journalist had a stroke on October 27.

The High Court of Justice in London approved on December 10 to extradite the WikiLeaks editor to the United States, where he is accused of espionage and hacking.

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