Ecuador's government is cutting off WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's communications outside the nation's London embassy.
The Australian has been living at the embassy since June 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden to face questioning over allegations of sex crimes, which he always denied.
Officials announced on Wednesday they were taking the measure in response to Mr Assange's recent activity on social media.
As part of an agreement between Mr Assange and the Ecuadorean government, he is not permitted to send any messages that could interfere with the South American nation's relations with other countries.
Swedish authorities have dropped their investigation, but Mr Assange believes he will be extradited to the United States for questioning over the activities of WikiLeaks if he leaves the building.
Earlier, former Greek minister Yanis Varoufakis and musician Brian Eno said in a statement they had heard "with great concern" about the lost internet access and ban on visitors.
"Only extraordinary pressure from the US and the Spanish governments can explain why Ecuador's authorities should have taken such appalling steps in isolating Julian," they said.
Statement by Brian Eno & Yanis Varoufakis: Restore Julian Assange’s access to visitors and the outside world. Now! https://t.co/QNVvtGBo7b #Yanis Varoufakis — Yanis Varoufakis (@yanisvaroufakis) March 28, 2018
They added that the Ecuador government had only recently granted Mr Assange citizenship, saying it must have been "leaned on mercilessly" to stop attempting to provide a diplomatic route to safety and even drive the WikiLeaks founder out of the embassy.
"Clearly, Ecuador's government has been subjected to bullying over its decision to grant Julian asylum, support and ultimately, diplomatic status."
UK Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan branded Mr Assange a "miserable little worm" during a Commons debate on Tuesday, adding he should leave the Ecuadorean embassy and surrender to British justice.
As a political prisoner detained without charge for 8 years, in violation of 2 UN rulings, I suppose I must be "miserable"; yet nothing wrong with being a "little" person although I'm rather tall; and better a "worm", a healthy creature that invigorates the soil, than a snake. — Julian Assange ⌛ (@JulianAssange) March 27, 2018
Mr Assange replied: "Britain should come clean on whether it intends to extradite me to the United States for publishing the truth and cease its ongoing violation of the UN rulings in this matter.
"If it does this disgraceful impasse can be resolved tomorrow. I have already fully served any theoretical (I haven't been charged) "bail violation" whilst in prison and under house arrest. So why is there a warrant for my arrest?"
fiendlittlewing on March 28th, 2018 at 17:57 UTC »
:Assange pointing to his forehead, grinning:
caption:
They can't put you in prison if you already live in prison.
badassmthrfkr on March 28th, 2018 at 17:56 UTC »
Ecuador is probably doing it because they're getting sick of his ass. They took him as a fuck you to the US but it's been 6 years already. They can't really kick him out at this point without losing face, so the best way to get him to leave voluntarily is to block off the only thing Assange has that gives him identity.
RadBadTad on March 28th, 2018 at 16:59 UTC »
This is what my mom used to tell my friends when I was grounded during the summer.
Weren't there concerns about a dead-man's-switch if he couldn't make contact at certain intervals?