After years of legal battles and diplomatic pressure, Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, finally gained his freedom in the early hours of the morning. It was described by his friends as the "last kick of the British establishment" when he was abruptly woken up at 2am in his cell at Belmarsh prison in London and ordered to get dressed before being handcuffed. This marked the beginning of the end of Assange's time behind bars in the UK, but it was clear that his release was going to be on the terms set by his jailers. A plea deal, a significant judgment that foreshadowed years of legal wrangling, and international pressure all played a role in securing Assange's freedom. The road to his release was long and arduous, but ultimately, he was able to walk out of prison and begin the next chapter of his life.