WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange gave a rare speech Thursday, from the balcony of Ecuador’s London embassy. There Assange described his plans to release more than one million files that will affect “every country in the world” within the next year.

“Despite an unprecedented criminal investigation and campaign to damage and destroy WikiLeaks, 2012 has been a huge year” said Assange. “Next year will be equally busy. WikiLeaks already has well over a million documents to release.”

The Australian native has been hiding out in Ecuador the past six months to avoid being extradited to Sweden, where police want to question him on allegations of sexual misconducts. Assange, 41, has not been charged with any crime, however in the past he has expressed his fears of being sent to the United States, where he believes he will be prosecuted for WikiLeaks’ release of classified diplomatic and military intelligence.

“The U.S. investigation is referred to in testimony under oath in U.S. courts, is admitted by Department of Justice and by the District Attorney of Virginia as a fact,” Assange said Thursday. “It’s subpoenas are being litigated in the courts. The Pentagon reissued its threats against me in September and claimed the very existence of WikiLeaks is an ongoing crime.”

The Ecuadorian ambassador for Britain, Ana Alban, defend the decision to grant Assange asylum in an issued statement.

“At a time of year when people come closer together, Ecuador reaffirms the solidarity that our country gave six months ago to a person who was being persecuted for thinking and expressing themselves freely,” Alban said. “Julian has become a guest in this house that we all have learned to appreciate.”

Assange called for reflection in his speech, maintaining his ongoing commitment to WikiLeaks.

“Often it is necessary, as we have done in our beloved country, to stand up and face those enemies of democracy that, far from seeking unity and peace among the citizens of the world, instead seek to ruin socialist peoples and dominate on behalf of small groups of people,” he said. “My work will not be cowed,” he continued. “But while this immoral investigation continues, and while the Australian government will not defend the journalism and publishing of WikiLeaks, I must remain here.”