This article traces the place and development of diplomatic asylum in international law in close connection with the more specific questions raised by the case of Julian Assange, who was granted asylum in the Ecuador embassy in London on 16 August 2012. After discussing the historical rise and decline of diplomatic asylum, the article reviews the current status of diplomatic asylum in international law and its implications for the triangular legal relationship between the United Kingdom, Ecuador, and Mr Assange. The article submits that, although there would not seem to be a title in general international law or human rights law for Ecuador to grant asylum to Assange, there is no obvious legal route for the United Kingdom to terminate the asylum. The fate of Assange resembles that of a long series of historical precedents where diplomatic asylum resulted in protracted stays. Although this may seem an unsatisfactory result from the perspective of international law, the uneasy balance between territorial sovereignty and diplomatic inviolability also engenders incentives to avoid disputes or to resolve them through diplomatic channels.

Diplomatic immunities — Permanent diplomatic envoys — Staff of diplomatic mission — Immunity from suit — Action begun before defendant entitled to immunity — Whether subsequent diplomatic status confers immunity from continuation of proceedings — The law of England.

Diplomatic immunities — Miscellaneous — Member of foreign military mission — Certification of immunity — Immunity from jurisdiction of municipal courts — The law of Argentina.

Diplomatic privileges and immunities — Representative accredited to United Nations — Exemption from jurisdiction of local courts — Action in rem — The law of the United States of America.

Consuls — Privileges and immunities of — Exemption from jurisdiction of local courts — Diplomatic rank — Proof of status — Uncertified document of Executive Department — Duty of court in absence of acceptable proof of status — The law of the United States of America.

Diplomatic immunities — Exemption from jurisdiction of local courts — Proof of diplomatic status — Uncertified document of Executive Department — Duty of court in absence of acceptable proof of diplomatic status — The law of the United States of America.

Diplomatic immunities — Retinue of diplomatic envoy — Servant of military attaché — Competence as witness — Immunity from prosecution for perjury — Waiver of immunity.

Diplomatic immunities — Permanent diplomatic envoys — Staff of diplomatic mission — Competence as witnesses — Immunity from prosecution for perjury — Waiver of immunity.

Diplomatic Immunities — Foreign Legation as Co-Surety for Obligations Incurred by Minister — Whether Implying Waiver of Immunity — The Law of Argentina

Diplomatic Immunities — Chargé d’Affaires ad interim — Immunity of — The Law of Argentina

Conclusiveness of Statements of Executive — Immunity from Jurisdiction — The Law of the United States of America.

Diplomatic Immunities — Representatives of Foreign States Accredited to United Nations

Jurisdiction — Exemptions from — Foreign States — “Suggestion” of Immunity — Conclusiveness of — Representative Accredited to the United Nations — Immunity of — The Law of the United States of America.

International Law — Relation to Municipal Law — Absence of Rules of International Law — International Law as Part of the Law of Sweden — Diplomatic Immunity.

Diplomatic Immunities — Property Used as Embassy — Whether Immune from Jurisdiction — The Law of Sweden

Jurisdiction — Exemptions from — Foreign States — Real Property Purchased by Foreign State — Proposed Use as Embassy — Whether Property Subject to Local Jurisdiction — The Law of Sweden — Relevance of Absence of Applicable Rules of Swedish Law.

Diplomatic Immunities — Families of Members of Staff of Legation — Wife of First Secretary Involved in Traffic Accident — The Law of Argentina

Diplomatic Immunities — Staff of Embassy — Secretaries — Original Jurisdiction of Supreme Court of Argentina — Refusal of Embassy to Waive Immunity

Diplomatic Immunities — Subordinate Members of Staff of Embassies — Drivers — Immunity from Criminal Jurisdiction — Relevance of Nationality of Member of Staff — The Law of Brazil.

Diplomatic Immunities — Staff of Diplomatic Mission — Contract of Lease — Waiver of Immunity — Requirement of Consent of Sending State — The Law of Chile — Havana Convention Concerning Diplomatic Officers, 1928.

Jurisdiction — Territorial — Exemptions from — Foreign States — Embassy as Representing Foreign State — Absence of jus standi in judicio.

Diplomatic Immunities — Immunities of Envoys — Immunity of Embassy from Jurisdiction — Position of Embassy as Representing Sending State — Absence of Jus Standi in Judicio.

Diplomatic Immunities — Staff of Diplomatic Mission — First Secretary of Embassy — Action in Respect of Failure to Pay Alimony — Absence of Immunity — Havana Convention of 1928 Concerning Diplomatic Officers — The Law of Chile.

Diplomatic Immunities — Staff of Diplomatic Mission — Immunity of — Waiver of Immunity — Requirement of Consent of Head of Mission — The Law of Argentina.

Diplomatic Immunities — Retinue of Head of Mission — Chauffeur to Ambassador — Absence of Immunity — The Law of Argentina.

Individual in International Law — Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms — Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 — Freedom of Movement and Residence.

Nationality — Acquisition of — Officials of United Nations — Prior Waiver of Privileges and Immunities.

Diplomatic Immunities — In General — Waiver of — Waiver of Immunities of Officials of International Organizations

International Organization — Officials of — Officials of the United Nations — Privileges and Immunities of — Waiver of — Acquisition of Nationality Conditional Upon Waiver of Privileges and Immunities — Authorization of Secretary-General — Refusal of Authorization — Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948.

Diplomatic Immunities — Miscellaneous — Diplomatic Status according to Special Agreement — Mutual Defence Assistance Agreement — Statement of Ministry for Foreign Affairs — Binding Force of — The Law of Denmark.

Diplomatic Immunities — Subordinate Officials — Attaché of Embassy — Liability to Taxation — Income Derived from Private Business Ventures in Receiving State — Diplomatic Representatives as Non-resident Aliens — Effect on Liability to Taxation.

Diplomatic Immunities — Ambassadors — Exemption from Subpoena as Witness — Whether Exemption Waived by Institution of Suit by Foreign Sovereign — Relevance of Showing of Expected Testimony — The Law of the United States of America.