Snowden wants asylum in Russia, ready to meet condition not to damage US
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. - According to Tatyana Lokshina of Human Rights Watch, Snowden seeks to stay in Russia as he “can’t fly to Latin America yet.” When asked if the NSA leaker has any more revelations, Lokshina responded: “He says that his job is done.” Snowden asked the human rights activists to petition the US and European states not to interfere with his asylum process, she said. The former NSA contractor also asked to intervene with President Putin on his behalf, Lokshina added. Snowden said he is ready to ask Russia for political asylum and that he “does not intend to harm the US in the future,” according to the chairman of the Russian State Duma MP Vyacheslav Nikonov. “No actions I take or plan are meant to harm the US... I want the US to succeed,” Snowden said. Thirteen Russian and international human rights advocates and lawyers have gathered at Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport for a meeting with Snowden. The whistleblower said the living conditions were fine at the airport and he felt safe there, but he knows he can't stay there forever, according to Lokshina.
The Guardian: Edward Snowden appears at Moscow airport and renews asylum claim – LIVE
The Guardian: Edward Snowden says he is requesting asylum in Russia as next step - The US whistleblower Edward Snowden has said he is requesting political asylum in Russia in a meeting with human rights activists at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport. Snowden said he would stay in Russia until he could win safe passage to Latin America. Snowden has been trapped in a Moscow airport since arriving from Hong Kong on 23 June. He has made nearly two dozen requests for political asylum, most of which have been refused. Venezuela has agreed to welcome the NSA whistleblower, who leaked secret documents outlining American surveillance programmes, but he remains without travel documents after the US annulled his passport in the wake of the leaks.