Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, made his first public remarks since his release, declaring that he “pled guilty to journalism.” Assange addressed the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France, following his release after a five-year stint in a British prison.

In his address, Assange reflected on the circumstances surrounding his release, emphasizing that it was not because “the system worked.” Instead, he attributed his freedom to pleading guilty to “seeking information from a source” — a stance he described as “journalism.”

Earlier this year, Assange reached a plea deal with the U.S. Justice Department, admitting guilt to publishing classified U.S. military secrets. His plea concluded a prolonged legal battle, including accusations of leaking sensitive military information related to U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Critics accused Assange of endangering national security, while supporters celebrated his role in exposing military misconduct.

Assange’s plea, entered in a U.S. district court in the Northern Mariana Islands, related to a charge under the Espionage Act for conspiring to unlawfully obtain and disseminate classified defense information. Having already spent five years in a British prison, he was sentenced to time served, allowing him to return to Australia in June.

The Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly recently published a report on Assange’s case, classifying him as a political prisoner and expressing concern about the harsh conditions of his detention. Assange, however, remains steadfast in his assertion that his actions were rooted in journalism, not criminal activity.

His return to public life comes after a period of recuperation, during which his wife, Stella, had previously mentioned that he needed time to recover before speaking out.