Assange’s poor hygiene cited in move by Ecuadoran Embassy

Staff at the Ecuadoran Embassy in London grew tired of whiffing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who reportedly does not attend to his own personal hygiene.

It’s that lack of cleanliness, among other things, that fueled Ecuador’s recent attempts to end his five-year standoff at the Knightsbridge embassy, the International Business Times reported.

“It seems he doesn’t wash properly,” a “well-placed” source told the news outlet, noting the issue has prompted repeated complaints from staff at the embassy.

Assange reportedly complained of noise from a loading bay near his hideout, which resulted in a female restroom being converted into a bedroom for him. The move left Assange sharing a single restroom with embassy staff.

And it’s not the first time people around him have complained of Assange’s questionable hygiene practices.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange greets supporters in May outside the Ecuadoran Embassy in London. Assange has been living in the embassy in since 2012 to avoid arrest. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange greets supporters in May outside the Ecuadoran Embassy in London. Assange has been living in the embassy in since 2012 to avoid arrest. Photo: Frank Augstein, Associated Press Photo: Frank Augstein, Associated Press Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Assange’s poor hygiene cited in move by Ecuadoran Embassy 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

“Julian ate everything with his hands, and he always wiped his fingers on his pants. I have never seen pants as greasy as his in my whole life,” one of his closest aides, Daniel Domscheit-Berg, told the Times.

Jeremie Zimmermann, a friend and former colleague, wrote in 2012 that “unless the people around him force him to shower, he might not change his clothes for days.”

The WikiLeaks founder was made an Ecuadoran citizen last month, the nation’s foreign minister revealed Thursday, in a bid to resolve the diplomatic impasse created by Assange’s presence.

Earlier last week, the British Foreign Office revealed it dismissed requests from Ecuador for the Australia native to be made an accredited diplomat. Ecuador officials hoped it would allow for Assange to leave the embassy — and Britain — without arrest.

Assange fled to the embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden for questioning on rape and sexual assault allegations and was granted asylum there. The case in Sweden was dropped after prosecutors questioned him at the embassy. Assange could still be arrested for skipping bail and faces jail time should he leave the embassy.

U.S. officials told the Times that arresting Assange remains a priority, though they did not confirm whether the government would request his extradition should he be arrested in Britain. Assange previously said U.S. authorities already have prepared an indictment and made plans to extradite him for espionage after WikiLeaks disclosed hundreds of classified military documents.

Jessica Schladebeck is a New York Daily News writer.