Snowden's Future Remains Murky, But Dangerous

NSA leaker urges journalist to keep documents secret

NSA Leaker Snowden Has Asked for Asylum in Russia, Lawyer Says

Read the article here | Associated Press | Tuesday, July 16, 2013
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Fugitive Edward Snowden Applies for Asylum in Russia

BBC: Fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has applied for temporary asylum in Russia, officials say.

The Federal Migration Service confirmed he had completed the relevant paperwork at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, where he has been for the past three weeks.

Mr Snowden is wanted by the US for leaking details of government surveillance programmes.

He has no travel documents so has been unable to take up asylum offers from a number of Latin American states.

"He reached the conclusion that he needs to write an application for temporary asylum, and this procedure has just been done," said Anatoly Kucherena, a lawyer with strong links with the Kremlin who helped Mr Snowden with the paperwork.

"For now he is not going to go anywhere. For now he plans to stay in Russia," he said.

Mr Kucherena said the fugitive had stated in the application that he faced possible torture and execution if he returned to the US.

If his application is accepted, he will be free to work and move freely in Russia, said the lawyer. » | Tuesday, July 16, 2013

US Slams Russia for Giving 'Propaganda Platform' to Snowden

The White House says that Russia granting political asylum to Edward Snowden will be on par with providing the National Security Agency leaker with a "propaganda platform" to further harm the United States.

NSA Leaker Snowden Requests Political Asylum in Russia

After speculation that NSA leaker Edward Snowden had escaped Moscow's airport earlier this week, it turns out that Snowden is still stuck there. On Friday, the whistleblower met with human rights groups to say he wants Russia to give him temporary asylum until he figures out a way to reach Latin American where he has already been granted asylum. So what's next for the American? Former CIA analyst Ray McGovern joins us to discuss the possible outcome.

Snowden Announces He Will Seek Asylum in Russia - Audio

Former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden announces he will seek asylum in Russia before attempting to travel to Latin America. Speaking on Friday at a press conference in Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport, Snowden says he can only at this time legally accept asylum in Russia, because of his limitations on travel. Snowden has been on the run since disclosing details of US surveillance programmes

Snowden’s statement here

'Snowden Saga Test of Leadership for Putin & Obama'

NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden says he wants temporary political asylum in Russia, and has promised to stop releasing leaks that harm Washington. The White House said Friday that Russia granting political asylum to Edward Snowden would be on par with providing the National Security Agency leaker with a "propaganda platform" to further harm the United States. For more analysis Stephen Cohen, Professor of Russian and Slavic studies at New York University and a former advisor of President George Bush senior, joins RT.

Snowden Asks Russia for Asylum

NSA leaker & former CIA employee Edward Snowden has asked for political asylum in Russia, saying he could not fly to Latin America, according to Human Rights Watch representative who met the whistleblower. Thirteen Russian and international human rights advocates and lawyers have gathered at Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport for a meeting with Snowden.

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Edward Snowden Meets Rights Groups at Moscow Airport

BBC: Fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has met leading human rights groups and lawyers at Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow.

He spoke to around 10 activists in the airport transit zone.

Mr Snowden told activists he was seeking political asylum in Russia. He had earlier dropped his application when Moscow said he could stay only if he stopped leaking US secrets.

The Kremlin reiterated its condition on Friday.

"Mr Snowden could hypothetically stay in Russia if he first, completely stops the activities harming our American partners and US-Russian relations and, second, if he asks for this himself," President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. » | Friday, July 12, 2013

Snowden Requests Asylum in Russia

THE HINDU: The U.S. whistleblower meets Russian rights activists and lawyers at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport.

U.S. whistleblower Edward Snowden has requested political asylum in Russia, the RIA Novosti state news agency reported Friday.

The development comes after Mr. Snowden met Russian rights activists and lawyers at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport.

The meeting took place in a room in the transit zone of the airport’s terminal F, the Itar-Tass news agency reported. » | Moscow | Friday, July 12, 2013

Venezuela Is Edward Snowden's Best Option, Says Guardian's Glenn Greenwald

The Guardian's Glenn Greenwald, who first reported Edward Snowden's leaks on surveillance by the US National Security Agency, says Venezuela is the whistleblower's best option for asylum. Snowden, who is wanted by the United States, is believed to be in Moscow. Venezuela is thought to be one of three countries to accept his application for asylum

President Nicolás Maduro Offers Edward Snowden Asylum

Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro offers US whistleblower Edward Snowden "humanitarian asylum".

Read the Telegraph article here | Saturday, July 06, 2013

Venezuela President Offers Asylum to Snowden

AL JAZEERA: Nicolas Maduro offers "humanitarian asylum" to ex-US intelligence contractor who leaked surveillance programme details.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has said he had decided to offer asylum to former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden who is believed to be waiting in transit at a Moscow airport.

Snowden, who leaked US intelligence documents revealing a vast phone and internet surveillance programme, has petitioned several countries to avoid capture by Washington.

"As head of state of the Boliviarian republic of Venezuela, I have decided to offer humanitarian asylum to the young Snowden ... to protect this young man from the persecution launched by the most powerful empire in the world," Maduro said on Friday.

Meanwhile, Nicaragua has said it could accept an asylum request from Snowden "if circumstances permit". » | Source: Agencies | Saturday, July 05, 2013

Edward Snowden Given Possible Lifeline as Bolivia Hints It Would Grant Asylum

THE GUARDIAN: Evo Morales says his country is keen to 'shield the denounced' as Snowden's father Lon compares son to Paul Revere

Bolivia threw a possible lifeline to the surveillance whistleblower Edward Snowden on Tuesday, telling Russian television it would consider granting him political asylum to escape from what it called the espionage network of the US "empire".

As other options began to fade for Snowden, trapped in the transit zone of a Moscow airport, Bolivian president Evo Morales said his country was keen to "shield the denounced".

Snowden's father, meanwhile, stepped up the rhetoric in favour of his son's actions on Tuesday, publishing an open letter that compared him to colonial independence fighter Paul Revere.

The letter was signed by Lon Snowden and his lawyer, Bruce Fein, who also reported receiving a phone call from WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Fein told the Associated Press that Assange, in the phone call on Saturday, delivered what he said was a message from Snowden to his father, asking him to keep quiet.

Speaking in Moscow, Morales said Bolivia had not received a formal application for asylum from Snowden yet, but hinted it would consider any request favourably.

"If there were a request, of course we would be willing to debate and consider the idea," Morales told RT Actualidad, the Spanish-language service of Russian broadcaster RT. » | Dan Roberts in Washington | Tuesday, July 02, 2013

BBC: Bolivia leader's jet diverted 'amid Snowden suspicions': Bolivian President Evo Morales's plane has been diverted to Austria amid suspicion that US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden is on board, the foreign minister has said. » | Wednesday, July 03, 2013

Snowden verzichtet auf Asyl in Russland

Der frühere US-Geheimdienstmitarbeiter Edward Snowden habe seinen Antrag zurückgezogen, sagte Kremlsprecher Dmitri Peskow Agenturen zufolge heute in Moskau. Grund seien die von Präsident Wladimir Putin genannten Asyl-Bedingungen.

STERN.DE: Deutschland verweigert Snowden Asyl: Edward Snowden hat mehr als 20 Länder um Asyl gebeten. Auch Deutschland stand auf seiner Liste. Doch schneller als erwartet lehnten die Behörden seinen Antrag ab. » | kng/Reuters/DPA | Dienstag, 02. Juli 2013


TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Les élus sont divisés sur l’octroi de l’asile à Snowden: Des élus politique jugent que l'espion doit être accueilli comme un réfugié en danger de mort. D'autres l'excluent et rappellent que les Etats-Unis sont une démocratie. » | Par Patrick Chuard, Berne | mardi 02 juli 2013

TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Edward Snowden aurait peur d'être tué aux USA: Edward Snowden affirme qu'il «risque d'être persécuté» par les Etats-Unis s'il devait y retourner, dans sa lettre justifiant sa demande d'asile politique à la Pologne. » | ats/afp/Newsnet | mardi 02 juli 2013

Edward Snowden's Options Dwindle After Political Asylum Rejections

List of the countries approached and their responses

THE GUARDIAN: Several countries have denied whistleblower's request to seek asylum and others say he must be on their territory to apply

Edward Snowden's hopes of finding refuge from prosecution appeared to be dwindling on Tuesday as country after country denied the US whistleblower's requests to seek political asylum.

Snowden sought political asylum from 21 countries, according toWikiLeaks, passing his requests to Russian officials from his hideaway in Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport.

Several countries replied with a flat out "no", including Brazil, India, Norway and Poland. "I will not give a positive recommendation," the Polish foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, wrote on his Twitter account.

A spokesman for the Indian foreign ministry tweeted: "Following careful examination, we have concluded that we see no reason to accede to the Snowden request." To add insult to injury, Brazil said it did not feel Snowden's request deserved a response.

An enraged US has warned countries against accepting Snowden, who they are seeking on charges that he violated the espionage act when gathering and leaking classified documents outlining the National Security Agency's surveillance programmes.

Officials from many countries said Snowden would have to be on their territory to properly apply for asylum, a major stumbling block as Snowden has been stripped of his US passport and remains confined inside Sheremetyevo without travel documents. » | Miriam Elder in Moscow | Tuesday, July 02, 2013

Snowden Drops Russia's Asylum Bid as Whistleblower Saga Continues

Edward Snowden has withdrawn his application for asylum in Russia. The whistleblower was apparently unwlling to stop leaking damaging revelations about Washington's surveillance habits, which was one of Moscow's conditions. He still has requests for refuge being considered by almost 20 other nations

Snowden Drops Asylum Bid for Russia: Official

VOICE OF AMERICA: A Russian official says fugitive American spy agency contractor Edward Snowden has dropped his bid for asylum, after President Vladimir Putin said he could only stay if he stopped leaking sensitive U.S. intelligence.

The spokesperson for Putin also confirmed Tuesday that Snowden remains in the transit zone of a Moscow airport, where he fled eight days ago from Hong Kong after revealing top-secret U.S. surveillance operations.

Wikileaks, the anti-secrecy group that has supported Snowden, said Tuesday it has submitted asylum requests to 19 more countries on behalf of the ex-CIA employee.

The countries include China, India, Brazil, and several other European nations, including several U.S. allies. Wikileaks said this is in addition to earlier asylum requests to Ecuador and Iceland. » | VOA News | Tuesday, July 02, 2013

Putin: Snowden Can Stay in Russia If He Stops Damaging US

President Vladimir Putin says NSA leaker Edward Snowden may stay in Russia, if he wants to, but only if he stops activities aimed against the United States.

Verwandt »

US and Ecuador Discuss Snowden's Bid for Asylum
BBC: The US vice-president has talked to Ecuador's leader by phone about fugitive ex-CIA analyst Edward Snowden's bid for asylum.

Joe Biden held talks with President Rafael Correa on Friday, the two countries confirmed.

According to Mr Correa, Mr Biden asked him to reject the request but Washington gave no details.

In a new development, a German magazine says a document leaked by Mr Snowden shows the US bugged EU offices.

Spiegel magazine says a September 2010 "top secret" document of the US National Security Agency outlines how the agency bugged offices and spied on EU internal computer networks in Washington and at the UN. The document explicitly referred to the EU as a "target", the magazine reports.

Mr Snowden is believed to be staying at a Moscow airport, having arrived nearly a week ago from Hong Kong, where he had been staying since he revealed details of top secret US surveillance programmes.

The US has charged him with theft of government property, unauthorised communication of national defence information and wilful communication of classified communications intelligence.

Each charge carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence. » | Saturday, June 29, 2013