Putin Weighs in on Assange Case

Calls it "political," accuses Britain of double-standards on extradition

Russian President Vladimir Putin says the case of Julian Assange appears "political", accusing Britain of double standards over his extradition.

Mr Assange is currently holed up in the Ecuador embassy in London in a bid to avoid arrest and extradition to Sweden, from where he fears he could be extradited on to the United States to face potential accusations of treason.

"They (the British judiciary) decided to extradite him. What is this? Of course it is double standards, that is clear," Mr Putin told state-controlled English language network Russia Today in an interview whose transcript was released by the Kremlin.