'Rotting in jail': Thousands march for Julian Assange's release as his brother urges Anthony Albanese to act

Supporters of jailed WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange have formed a human chain in Melbourne's city centre to protest his detention.

Protestors during a demonstration protesting the imprisonment of Australian activist Julian Assange, along the Yarra River in Melbourne, on Saturday, 8 October 2022. Source: AAP / Joel Carrett

Thousands have marched through Melbourne's city centre calling for the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

The 51-year-old Australian has been in London's Belmarsh prison since he was removed from the Ecuadorian embassy in 2019.

Mr Assange is fighting a long-running legal battle to avoid extradition to the United States, where he is wanted for espionage offences.

Melbourne protesters marched through the city streets and formed a human chain across a Southbank bridge on Saturday morning as they called on the Australian government to intervene.

Protestors during a demonstration protesting the imprisonment of Australian activist Julian Assange, along the Yarra River in Melbourne, Saturday, October 8, 2022. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett) NO ARCHIVING Source: AAP / Joel Carrett

"There's an expectation in the electorate that the prime minister and this government is going to get Julian out of jail," Mr Assange's brother Gabriel Shipton told AAP.

"The prime minister's statements before the election - enough is enough, he doesn't see what purpose is served by Julian being kept in prison - those were seen as a commitment.

"It's been so many days of this government and Julian is still rotting in that prison."

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese should contact the United States president directly and plead Mr Assange's case, Mr Shipton said.

"They can pick up the phone, call Joe Biden and say, hasn't Julian suffered enough? Drop the charges and extradition," he said.

"Julian would walk free."

What's the latest on Julian Assange's case?

In June, then-United Kingdom home secretary Priti Patel approved Mr Assange's extradition to the US.

Then, in August, lawyers for Mr Assange filed an appeal, arguing he is being prosecuted and punished for his political opinions.

Mr Assange was charged by the US with 17 counts of espionage and one charge of computer misuse after WikiLeaks published thousands of leaked military and diplomatic documents.

Julian Assange is fighting a long-running legal battle to avoid extradition to the United States, where he is wanted for espionage offences. Source: AAP, EPA / Neil Hall

Melbourne's demonstration against Mr Assange's detention was one of many being held across the world on Saturday.

It was heartening to see such global solidarity for Mr Assange's cause, Mr Shipton said.

"The movement is growing around the world as evidenced by these protests," he said.

"We're not going to stop. We are not going to be quiet."