BRUSSELS, JUNE 25 :  The release of Australian-born journalist and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is a victory for journalists around the world, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) told RIA Novosti on Tuesday.

“Julian Assange is free. Victory for the right to inform and to be informed. Victory for journalists around the world,” the organization said.

Earlier in the day, WikiLeaks said that Assange had been released from prison in the United Kingdom and was flying to Australia. Court documents revealed that he was expected to plead guilty to US espionage charges as part of a plea deal with federal prosecutors.(UNI)