4 ms·

He is not in the UK. He is currently residing in a quasi-sovereign area of the country of Ecuador, which happens to be in London.

• matt4077 12y ago
  "Contrary to popular belief, diplomatic missions do not enjoy full extraterritorial status and are not sovereign territory of the represented state" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplomatic_mission#Extraterritoriality http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplomatic_mission#Extraterrito...
  • CPLX 12y ago
    Yes, there is some subtlety here. But the point stands, which is all the discussion of "why he picked the UK" as a place to avoid extradition seems to be missing the point. If he were comfortable with the government of the UK he'd be relaxing in a pub or reading in the park rather than holed up inside an embassy somewhat out of the reach of UK law for two years.
  • godgod 12y ago
    Imagine the diplomatic row if UK jackboots stormed the Ecuadorian embassy. The embassy is as safe as any other place right now.
• dghf 12y ago
  This page [0] says otherwise (about embassies in general, not specifically the Ecuadorean embassy in London): > U.S. embassies and consulates abroad, as well as foreign embassies and consulates in the United States, have a special status. While diplomatic spaces remain the territory of the host state, an embassy or consulate represents a sovereign state. [0] http://diplomacy.state.gov/discoverdiplomacy/diplomacy101/places/170537.htm http://diplomacy.state.gov/discoverdiplomacy/diplomacy101/pl...