Assange may have sought Russian sanctuary

Before Julian Assange ended up at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, he may have sought refuge from Russia. In 2010, the WikiLeaks founder wrote a letter to the Russian Consulate in London asking for a visa, according to the Associated Press. However, WikiLeaks has posted a statement on Twitter saying ‘Mr. Assange didn't apply for such a visa at any time or author the document.’ CNET News reports that on the same date that Assange sent the letter, Interpol issued a Red Notice for his arrest, making his Russian sanctuary request impossible. Sweden was trying to extradite Assange for allegedly raping a woman during a trip to the Scandinavian country in August 2010. In 2012, Assange skipped bail and made his way into the Ecuadorian Embassy. The investigation into Assange was dropped last year, although he's still in self-imposed exile. In February, he lost his bid to stop legal action against him in the UK where a warrant for his arrest still stands.