( CNN ) Swedish prosecutors have asked Julian Assange 's legal representatives whether the WikiLeaks founder would consent to be interviewed in London and have his DNA taken via a swab . Assange has been holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London since June 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden , where prosecutors want to question him about 2010 allegations that he raped one woman and sexually molested another . Swedish prosecutors have previously balked at coming to Britain to question Assange . However , a number of the crimes Julian Assange is suspected of will be subject to a statute of limitation in August 2015 , according to a statement from Marianne Ny , the director of public prosecutions . `` If Assange gives his consent , the prosecutor will promptly submit a request for legal assistance to the British authorities to further continue the investigation , '' the statement said . A request will also be made to the Ecuadorian authorities for permission to `` perform investigative measures '' at its London embassy , the statement said . Ecuador granted Assange political asylum in 2012 . Assange 's defense lawyer , Per E. Samuelsson , said he called Assange on Friday morning with the news from the prosecution authority -- and that in principle they viewed the request positively . `` I think I woke him up , but he knew I was calling with news about the case since I called so early , '' Samuelsson said . `` He was , of course , very happy that something is finally happening but he is irritated that it has taken such a long time . '' This is a step that Assange and his team have been requesting for four years , Samuelsson said . Ny explained the logic behind the Swedish authorities ' change of approach in her statement . `` My view has always been that to perform an interview with him at the Ecuadorian embassy in London would lower the quality of the interview , and that he would need to be present in Sweden in any case should there be a trial in the future , '' Ny said . `` This assessment remains unchanged . Now that time is of the essence , I have viewed it therefore necessary to accept such deficiencies to the investigation and likewise take the risk that the interview does not move the case forward , particularly as there are no other measures on offer without Assange being present in Sweden . '' The Australian national has not been charged and denies the claims . He 's said he fears Sweden would extradite him to the United States , where he could face the death penalty if he is charged and convicted of publishing government secrets through WikiLeaks . Samuelsson said Assange 's legal team would travel over to London as soon as possible to discuss Ny 's request and that it expects to respond next week . `` The problem is that there are two more countries involved in this request so it might take some time to make all this happen , '' Samuelsson said . Samuelsson also said Friday 's development was not a great surprise since Sweden 's Supreme Court had last week asked the prosecutor general for an opinion on the case . `` We think that the prosecutor general , who has taken over the case , probably told Prosecutor Ny to interview Assange in London , '' he said . Assange has previously said the arrest warrant should be thrown out because , in part , Swedish authorities declined to interview him at the Ecuadorian Embassy , thereby prolonging a preliminary investigation that he said should have concluded long ago . London 's Metropolitan Police said last month that the cost of the operation to guard the embassy to prevent Assange fleeing had spiraled to more than 10 million pounds ( $ 15.3 million . ) overall . CNN 's Claudia Rebaza contributed to this report .
Julian Assange 's says they view the request positively but will have to discuss response . Swedish prosecutors will ask Lawyer for Assange lawyers if they can question him in London . He is wanted for questioning over sexual abuse claims in Sweden ; he denies the allegations .