LONDON — Prosecutors will interview Julian Assange in London in connection with a rape case on Nov. 14, Swedish authorities said Monday.
The announcement marks a step forward in the legal impasse that has kept the WikiLeaks founder holed-up in the Ecuador Embassy in the U.K. capital for the last four years.
The Swedish Prosecution Authority said that Ecuador has agreed to provide legal assistance in investigating allegations of rape leveled at Assange.
Related: Assange's Arrest Warrant in Rape Case Upheld by Swedish Court
An Ecuadorian prosecutor will carry out the interview while Swedish authorities, including Chief Prosecutor Ingrid Isgren and a police investigator, will be present.
“I welcome the fact that the investigation can now move forward via an interview with the suspect,” director of prosecution Marianne Ny said in a statement.
Swedish authorities launched an investigation into Assange in 2010 after two women came forward accusing him of rape and sexual assault. Assange fled to the Ecuadorian Embassy in London to avoid extradition.
And while Swedish authorities dropped two cases of sexual assault against Assange last year, they are forging ahead with the case involving allegations of rape.
Following the interview, prosecutors will decide whether to formally charge Assange. He has been asked to provide a DNA sample as a part of the interrogation.
Assange denies the allegations. He maintains that if he were sent to Sweden, the United States would extradite him after his organization released a trove of secret diplomatic cables.
Related: U.S. Urged Ecuador to Act Against Assange
Assange has also injected his influence on the U.S. elections by publishing hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee and top aides to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.
Senior DNC officials have resigned from their posts as a result of the unearthed messages.