A detention order against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on sexual assault allegations should remain in place , a Swedish judge ruled Wednesday . Assange has been holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London for more than two years in a bid to avoid extradition to Sweden , where he is wanted for questioning about allegations that he raped one woman and sexually molested another . Assange calls the charges false and politically motivated , but has said he fears that Sweden will transfer him to the United States -- where he could face the death penalty for the work of WikiLeaks -- if he were charged and convicted of a crime . He was represented at a hearing Wednesday in Stockholm by lawyers Thomas Olsson and Per Samuelsson , who argued that the detention order against their client should be revoked . But Stockholm District Court Judge Lena Egelin ruled that Assange was still suspected , with probable cause , of sex crimes and that his detention order should remain in place . Elisabeth Massi Fritz , a lawyer representing one of the women making the allegations against Assange , called the decision `` correct and expected . '' Prosecutor Marianne Ny told reporters after the verdict that it was now up to the UK police to enforce the arrest warrant for Assange . `` It is in the hands of Julian Assange , who has taken refuge at the Ecuadorian embassy in London , whether or not he decides to leave the embassy , '' she said . Ny said the warrant could remain in place until the statute of limitations takes effect -- five years for unlawful coercion and 10 years for rape . In court , Olsson said the case has dragged on for too long , harming his client , and claimed there was no valid reason for the prosecutor not to agree to interrogate Assange in London , rather than Sweden . `` I 've been sitting in on interrogations where the FBI has traveled all the way from the United States to conduct interrogations . And if the FBI can travel from the United States , then surely the Swedish prosecutor can travel to London , '' he said . Olsson noted that Assange had n't gone outside for the past two years , a basic right usually granted to detainees . Defense argues that Assange has political asylum . The attorney also charged that his client had a right to political asylum in Ecuador . Assange did make himself available for questioning once in Sweden , Olsson said , and when he left the country for work reasons , he had been unaware the prosecutor would want to question him again . Assange had had only sporadic contact with his then-lawyer , Bjorn Hurtig , because of a very serious threat to his safety , Olsson said . Samuelsson said the case was in deadlock , and appealed to the court to end the stalemate . Swedish authorities will not move forward with the investigation until Assange is in Sweden , he said , while the defense has not been able to start its work `` since we are not given all the information that the prosecution has . '' `` The detention order can not be executed , '' Samuelsson told the court . `` It will not lead to Assange being transferred to Sweden within the near future because of the political asylum . And thus , this detention order will not provide anything positive for the Swedish state , but it will lead to more harm for Julian Assange . '' Prosecutor Ingrid Isgren , speaking on behalf of the prosecution authority , said the detention order should remain in place . There are sufficient grounds to believe Assange could be found guilty of the allegations against him , she said , and his evasion risk remains the same . Isgren told the court Assange had intentionally stayed away and had no intention of appearing for questioning in Sweden . The prosecution does not want to question Assange in London because of the nature of the crimes , and because it would be difficult to get all the necessary evidence if it had to be done via another country 's judicial system , Isgren said . She also rejected his claim that the defense had not been given access to all the relevant evidence against him . It is `` likely '' but not certain that Assange would be indicted after questioning , the prosecution told the court . However , the prosecution intends to go forward with the case . WikiLeaks vows an appeal . The prosecution presented evidence that would constitute probable cause for the case against Assange behind closed doors , in order not to interfere with the investigation . The prosecution 's written statement to the court rejected the claim that Assange 's lawyer was unaware he was wanted for further questioning . A representative for the lawyer for the two alleged victims was also present in court . Kristinn Hrafnsson , a WikiLeaks spokesman , expressed disappointment after the court 's verdict . `` I had been moderately hopeful , but this did n't come as a surprise , '' Hrafnsson said . `` Now we will appeal and we hope the higher court will reconsider all the solid arguments we have presented . This has to come to an end . '' Assange rocketed to international fame , and infamy , in 2010 after WikiLeaks began helping publish secret government documents online . Ecuador granted Assange asylum in June 2012 and he fled to the country 's embassy in London to avoid extradition . Assange to SXSW : We 're all being watched .
Assange judge keeps in place detention order against Ecuadorian Embassy founder Julian Assange . Assange has been holed up in WikiLeaks in London for five years . Assange faces accusations of sexual assault in London .