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Updated below.
RussiaToday on Jun 23, 2013
US whistleblower Edward Snowden is en route to Moscow from Hong Kong on an Aeroflot flight, authorities have confirmed. Washington has filed an extradition order to Hong Kong on charges of espionage, theft and conversion of government property.
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NSA leaker Snowden on flight to ‘third country’ via Moscow
Russia Today June 23, 2013
[…] Moscow will not be Snowden’s final destination, he could potentially fly on to Ecuador or Iceland where he has allegedly applied for asylum. A diplomatic source told the Russian news agency Itar-Tass that no request for asylum in Russia had been received from the former CIA employee. […]
via rt.com
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Edward Snowden Left Has Hong Kong On His Way To Moscow Not His Final Destination
XRepublicTV on Jun 23, 2013
June 23, 2013 BBC News
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Glenn Greenwald on Edward Snowden Asylum & NSA Revelations
LeakSourceNews on Jun 23, 2013
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Updated
Snowden Leaves Hong Kong, Lands In Russia, Seeking Asylum in Unnamed Country
democracynow on Jun 23, 2013
Amy Goodman interviews Michael Ratner, lawyer for Julian Assange and WikiLeaks, about the breaking news that NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden has freely left Hong Kong and has flown to Russia. He is seeking asylum in an unnamed country. Ratner is president emeritus of the Center for Constitutional Rights.
“Apparently he left Hong Kong with no difficulty,” Ratner says, confirming that he is now in Moscow. “Hong Kong government said that the warrant for his arrest issued by the United States was not valid. That he was free to leave.”
“He is not a fugitive. At this point, there’s no warrant that we know of outstanding for his arrest. Any charges from the United States are apparently sealed,” Ratner says. “He is seeking political asylum in another country. … It is not public yet where he is going on to.”
Major news outlets are reporting that Snowden has asked Ecuador for asylum. Ecuador’s foreign minister, Ricardo Patiño Aroca, confirmed the request on Twitter: “The Government of Ecuador has received an asylum request from Edward J. #Snowden.”
“Edward Snowden is entitled to political asylum under the refuge convention. People who are persecuted for their political opinions are entitled to political asylum,” Ratner says.
“In this case, Julian Assange was granted political asylum because whistleblowers about government corruption and criminality of governments are often recognized as people entitled to political asylum,” Ratner says. “Political asylum overrides any extradition.”
“This is a man who has taken on the United States and the massive surveillance … and started an important debate. He is a hero and a whistleblower,” Ratner says.
WikiLeaks issued this press release on Sunday, June 23:
“Mr. Edward Snowden, the American whistleblower who exposed evidence of a global surveillance regime conducted by U.S. and U.K. intelligence agencies, has left Hong Kong legally. He is bound for a democratic nation via a safe route for the purposes of asylum, and is being escorted by diplomats and legal advisors from WikiLeaks. Mr. Snowden requested that WikiLeaks use its legal expertise and experience to secure his safety. Once Mr. Snowden arrives at his final destination his request will be formally processed.”
WikiLeaks Lawyer Confirms Snowden Lands In Russia; Seeks Asylum in Unnamed Country
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WikiLeaks Statement On Edward Snowden’s Exit From Hong Kong – UPDATED
Sunday June 23, 17:50 BST
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mr Edward Snowden, the American whistleblower who exposed evidence of a global surveillance regime conducted by US and UK intelligence agencies, has left Hong Kong legally. He is bound for the Republic of Ecuador via a safe route for the purposes of asylum, and is being escorted by diplomats and legal advisors from WikiLeaks.
Mr Snowden requested that WikiLeaks use its legal expertise and experience to secure his safety. Once Mr Snowden arrives in Ecuador his request will be formally processed.
Former Spanish Judge Mr Baltasar Garzon, legal director of Wikileaks and lawyer for Julian Assange has made the following statement:
“The WikiLeaks legal team and I are interested in preserving Mr Snowden’s rights and protecting him as a person. What is being done to Mr Snowden and to Mr Julian Assange – for making or facilitating disclosures in the public interest – is an assault against the people”.
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Updated: June 24, 2013
Ecuador considers Edward Snowden asylum request
Fun Nani on Jun 24, 2013
Ecuador has said it has received a request for political asylum from Edward Snowden, the fugitive US intelligence contractor who is currently in Russian capital Moscow, adding that the application is still being “analysed” with no decisions taken yet.
Snowden, who is believed to be in the transit area of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport as he does not have a Russian visa, is expected to fly to Ecuador via Cuba provided he gets a positive reply to his asylum request.
He has revealed secret documents on US Internet and phone surveillance activities. Snowden recently flew from Hong Kong to Moscow on Sunday and was reported to have met the Ecuadorean ambassador in the Russian capital after applying for asylum.
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Where is Snowden? Likely in Moscow airport transit zone, awaiting flight to Cuba
RussiaToday June 24, 2013
NSA contractor-turned whistleblower Edward Snowden is awaiting a flight out of Moscow, which is thought to be destined for Cuba, and leaving in just a matter of hours. He arrived in the Russian capital on Sunday having fled Hong Kong with Washington in hot pursuit. RT’s corresponders report from the airport. READ MORE http://on.rt.com/jqm8cb
see
Understanding the Latest Leaks is Understanding the Rise of a New Fascism by John Pilger
Glenn Greenwald: As Obama Makes “False” Spy Claims, Snowden Risks Life to Spark NSA Debate
Chris Hedges VS Geoffrey Stone Debate: Is Edward Snowden a Hero?
Julian Assange: It’s a Vast, Sprawling, Transnational Surveillance System
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