The interview comes one day after CNN published an “exclusive report” citing unpublished documents allegedly obtained from security companies, detailing how Assange turned the Ecuadorian Embassy into an election meddling headquarters, Sputnik News writes.
Former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa claimed Tuesday that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange meddled in 2016 US presidential elections during his stay at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, according to CNN.
"We did notice that he was interfering in the elections and we do not allow that because we have principles, very clear values, as we would not like anyone to interfere in our elections", he said, according to report. "We are not going to allow that to happen with a foreign country and friend like the US".
In 2012, Assange was granted asylum in the Ecuadorian Embassy, allowing him to evade prosecution over rape allegations in Sweden, which he denies. According to media reports, Assange made an agreement with Ecuadorian authorities not to interfere with other states.
In 2017, Correa was succeeded by Lenin Moreno, a staunch supporter of the United States. In 2018, Ecuador cut Assange’s internet access over allegations of breaching the non-interference agreement. In 2019, Moreno voided Assange’s immunity, allowing the UK police to drag the WikiLeaks founder out of the building.
Read more: UK signs extradition request for Julian Assange
Speaking with CNN, Correa blasted WikiLeaks for publishing information on Clinton alone, while avoiding damning publications on Republican candidate Donald Trump.
"WikiLeaks' justification was that they were providing truthful information", Correa told CNN. "Sure, but (it) was just about Hillary Clinton. Not about (Donald) Trump. So, they were not saying all the truth. And not saying all the truth is called manipulation. And we are not going to allow that".
He rejected the idea that Ecuador cooperated with WikiLeaks in a bid to put Trump into the Oval Office.
"I am way closer to Hillary Clinton than Trump", Correa said. "I know Hillary, I admire her. I was a student in the US, doing my doctorate when Bill Clinton was (president). Trump is an enemy of our migrants. Why the hell are we going to support him? None of this makes sense".
Commenting on the issue, Don Debar, a political analyst and host of the syndicated daily radio newscast CPR News in the US, said that he is shocked at Correa's expression of admiration for the Clintons, if the interview is real.
"It's not clear to me who interviewed the former President Rafael Correa, nor when the interview took place", he said, adding "I must say, if Correa really said those things, then I begin to see his selection of Lenin Moreno in a different light and, perhaps, his intentional installation of another puppet of American imperialism with a less amusing public persona".
