STOCKHOLM (AP) — Sweden's immigration authority on Monday rejected WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's request for residency, a potential setback in his efforts to gain protection from Swedish press freedom laws.
The Australian has been exploring ways to take advantage of legal protection for whistle-blowers in the Nordic country, where WikiLeaks has some of its servers. He applied for residency on Aug. 18.
"His application has been denied," Migration Board spokeswoman Gunilla Wikstrom told The Associated Press. She declined to give the reason, saying it was confidential.
Assange has three weeks to appeal.
Wikstrom wouldn't say whether the decision was influenced by allegations of rape and sexual molestation against Assange by two Swedish women. Assange has denied the allegations, made nearly two months ago. Prosecutors have not yet decided whether to file charges in the case.
Speaking generally, Wikstrom said only crimes that have been proven would affect the Migration Board's decisions.
WikiLeaks has angered the Pentagon by releasing thousands of classified U.S. war reports from Afghanistan. It's believed to be preparing to release an even larger set of classified documents on the Iraq war.
Assange has said that WikiLeaks is preparing to apply for a publishing certificate in Sweden to take full advantage of its press freedom laws. If Assange fails to get residency, someone else would have to be listed as the publisher responsible for the site.
To get residency applicants either need to have a job offer from a company in Sweden or, if they are planning to start their own business, the skills needed and a solid plan for the business, Wikstrom said.
"The person also needs funds to cover the start-up costs for the business and to maintain a living in Sweden for the first year," she added.
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