In an exclusive for the Sydney Morning Herald, Geoffrey Robertson has provided, from his new book published this week, an excerpt dealing with the "case" against Julian Assange.

This might be the most complete and most accurate summation yet.

Dear user,

You are contacted because you are still registered with wikileaks-forum.com. This is to warn you that this website can not be trusted. People joined this forum in the belief that they were becoming members of WikiLeaks' official forum, a place to express and nurture their support. Regrettably, this is not true anymore.

Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2013
From: Julian Assange
To: Benedict Cumberbatch
Subject: Message from Assange

Dear Benedict,

Thank you for trying to contact me. It is the first approach by anyone from the DreamWorks production to me or WikiLeaks.

My assistants communicated your request to me, and I have given it a lot of thought and examined your previous work, which I am fond of.

I think I would enjoy meeting you.

In the US, we've increasingly seen attacks on the free press. Now, in the case of Barrett Brown, a journalist who's been jailed for the past year stands to lose his free speech.

Assange lawyer Per E Samuelson has confirmed that a criminal complaint has been filed at 09:44 on Tuesday 3 September 2013 with Swedish police authorities. The complaint concerns the likely unlawful seizure of WikiLeaks property on 27 September 2010, following publication of the Afghan War Diaries. Additional affidavits and articles of evidence used in the complaint have been ready for a year, but the filing was held off until now for various reasons.

A similar complaint has been filed in Germany and complaints in two additional jurisdictions are to follow.

Daniel Matthews offers a furtive thought in the context of his resignation
on behalf of pure democracy:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

David Coombs, chief attorney for WikiLeaks whistle-blower Pfc. Bradley Manning, announced at a press conference near Ft. Meade, MD, today that he is formally applying for a Presidential Pardon for Bradley Manning. Coombs is seeking Manning's immediate release, or at the very least a commutation to a sentence of time already served.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WikiLeaks whistleblower Pfc. Bradley Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison today, an outrage that flies in the face of America's essential ideals of accountability in government, and which seeks to instill a chilling effect on those who'd dare to expose the United States' illegality.

Ft Meade: Colonel Denise Lind sentenced Bradley Manning to 35 years prison.

What: David Coombs to give statement and take questions
When: 3 hours after court closes following sentencing tomorrow, approximately 1:30 PM
Where: The Hotel at Arundel Preserve, 7795 Arundel Mills Blvd, Hanover, MD 21076
Notes: Free parking in the hotel's parking structure, 2nd Floor Conference Room

David Coombs, lead attorney for WikiLeaks whistleblower Pfc. Bradley Manning, will give a statement and answer questions from the press, three hours after military judge Colonel Denise Lind delivers Manning's sentence. Today, Judge Lind announced that she would deliver her sentence at 10:00 AM, so the press conference will start at approximately 1:30 PM.

The Sam Adams Associates for Integrity in Intelligence gave the 2013 award for 'truth telling' to Edward Snowden. Following is their official statement.

The WikiLeaks Twitter feed is announcing three new insurance files for a total of 400 GB of storage space. No indication is given as to the files' contents.

Edward Snowden has issued a statement to the Huffington Post regarding confusion about his current situation, and Julian Assange has spoken with Australia's The Age in the same vein.

Today Bradley Manning reportedly made a statement of remorse in a sentencing hearing at Fort Meade, Maryland. Manning's statement comes towards the end of a court martial trial pursued with unprecedented prosecutorial zeal.

Edward Snowden has been selected as the first source to be aided by the new Journalistic Source Protection Defence Fund. The JSPDF is administered by Derek Rothera & Company Charted Accountants of the United Kingdom. Details of how you can donate follow.

On Friday 9 August 2013, US President Barack Obama addressed the world through a live feed at the White House website. Several topics were discussed, but the main topic - the obvious reason for the address - was of course the revelations about illegal NSA surveillance programmes. Today Julian Assange responds.

When: Sunday, August 4, 2013 from 3 to 5:30pm
Where: Friends Meeting House of DC, 2111 Florida Ave, NW, Washington DC (Enter via Phelps Street gate)

When: Sunday, August 4, 2013 from 3 to 5:30pm

Where: Friends Meeting House of DC
2111 Florida Ave, NW, Washington DC

Gena Virginia Mason passed away 28 June 2013 in Basildon England. Gena was one of WL Central's most prolific writers and arguably one of the very best on the web. Her work has long since been acknowledged for its oftentimes sheer brilliance.

Staff at WLC share in the sorrow of her passing.

1 August 2013, 16:00 UTC

Today, Thursday 1st August at 15:50 MSK, Edward Snowden was granted temporary asylum in Russia. He left Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow with WikiLeaks staffer and legal advisor Sarah Harrison who has accompanied him during his 39 day stay in the transit zone and continues to do so. Ms Harrison has remained with Mr Snowden at all times to protect his safety and security, including during his exit from Hong Kong. They departed from the airport together in a taxi and are headed to a secure, confidential place.