[meric]

Ecuador offered Assange residency in 2010 (but rescinded later due to diplomatic pressure) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11874911

Maybe Assange thought it was worth trying a known "friendly" country first. Also the Ecuador government claimed it had nothing to lose from wikileaks' leaks, so if they really didn't maybe they'll be less likely to try to screw him.