Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has begun legal action against Ecuador’s government, accusing it of “violating his fundamental rights and freedoms” after cutting off his communications with the outside world.

Assange has been holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since being granted political asylum in 2012. He fears extradition to the US to face charges of stealing classified information if he ever leaves.

Assange stepped down as editor of the whistleblowing website last month, taking up a role as its publisher, after almost seven months of being denied access to the internet and other forms of communications.