The Australian journalist, who was portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch in 2013 movie The Fifth Estate, has been living in London's Ecuadorian embassy since 2012 to avoid arrest and extradition to Sweden on rape and sexual assault allegations dating back to 2010.

Assange, who vehemently denies the accusations, lodged an appeal against the arrest warrant, and his claim was initially dismissed by a court in Sweden in November (14), but officials at the country's Supreme Court have now given him the right to move forward with his legal fight.

The newsman claims extradition to Sweden would allow U.S. officials to prosecute him over the leak of thousands of classified American documents.

No date had been set for Assange's appeal hearing as WENN went to press.