WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has called U.S. President Barack Obama’s announcement of plans to limit sweeping surveillance programs a victory of sorts for former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.

The assessment appears in a statement by Assange on the WikiLeaks website. Assange also accused the U.S. government of stunning hypocrisy in its treatment of Snowden while it gave asylum to thousands of dissidents, whistleblowers and political refugees from countries like Russia and Venezuela.

Assange has been holed up at the Ecuadorean Embassy in London for more than a year, fearing extradition to the U.S. for publishing classified U.S. documents.