The 39-year-old Australian was transported to the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court in central London Tuesday morning from Wandsworth Prison in the city's southwest. He has been held there, reportedly in solitary confinement, since his arrest on Dec. 7.
Assange is wanted for questioning by Swedish police on accusations of rape, sexual molestation and unlawful coercion. The crimes are alleged to have happened with two women in separate incidents in August.
Assange has steadfastly denied the accusations, suggesting the charges stem not from his actions but were provoked by organization's release of thousands of confidential, and often embarrassingly frank, U.S. diplomatic documents.
In a statement given to his mother to release to Australian reporters, Assange suggested his commitment to WikiLeaks, and to releasing documents, was "unfaltering."
"I remain true to the ideals," he wrote. "This circumstance shall not shake them if anything this process has increased my determination that they are true and correct."
Assange's lawyers are expected to argue that their client should be granted bail and promise that he will not leave the U.K. while his extradition case is being heard.
Protesters gathered across the street from the courthouse on Tuesday, carrying signs reading "Free Assange."
Assange's arrest a week ago came six days after the WikiLeaks website began publishing the controversial diplomatic cables.
Interpol, the France-based international police organization, placed Assange on its most-wanted list on Nov. 30 after Sweden issued an arrest warrant against him.
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