Freedom for Assange is Defeat for Russia, say Putin’s Mouthpieces

Submission Statement: Leading Russian state TV hosts and commentators reacted very negatively to Julian Assange’s release from UK imprisonment and return to Australia, seeing it as a defeat for Russia. Anger was expressed that Assange had been humiliated by agreeing to a plea deal with US authorities and that the “American Leviathan” had triumphed. Julia Davis discusses how their dismay suggests Assange had become a symbol exploited by Kremlin propaganda, and his plea deal may allow for new disclosure of information harmful to Russia.