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ProSense

(116,464 posts) Mon Jul 22, 2013, 12:54 PM Jul 2013

Leaker Snowden hopes to be able to leave airport by Wednesday: lawyer

Leaker Snowden hopes to be able to leave airport by Wednesday: lawyer

(Reuters) - Former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden hopes to be granted papers by Wednesday allowing him to end his month-long stay in the transit area of a Moscow airport and move to the city center, his Russian lawyer said on Monday.

Anatoly Kucherena, who helped the American file his bid for temporary asylum in Russia on July 16, said Snowden believed it would be unsafe to try to travel to Latin America soon because of U.S. efforts to return him to the United States to face espionage charges.

<...>

Snowden's bid for temporary asylum in Russia may take up to three months to process, but he can pass through customs based on the initial response to his request, Kucherena added.

Snowden, whose presence at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport since June 23 has strained U.S.-Russian relations, has not ruled out seeking Russian citizenship, Kucherena said. Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua have all said they would grant him political asylum, but none is reachable by direct commercial flight from Moscow.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/22/us-usa-security-snowden-russia-idUSBRE96L0LF20130722

8 replies

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Highlight:

Leaker Snowden hopes to be able to leave airport by Wednesday: lawyer (Original Post) ProSense Jul 2013 OP

Wonder what kind of deal Snowden cut for this flamingdem Jul 2013 #1

He's officially in the way BeyondGeography Jul 2013 #2

Hey Kolesar Jul 2013 #4

I think that Obama won't go to Moscow if Eddie is around flamingdem Jul 2013 #5

Glad to see things are moving along for him Mojorabbit Jul 2013 #3

all sorts of things could happen to him in moscow nt arely staircase Jul 2013 #6

Frankly, ProSense Jul 2013 #7

Time will tell. nt Mojorabbit Jul 2013 #8

flamingdem

(39,313 posts)

1. Wonder what kind of deal Snowden cut for this

Reply to ProSense (Original post)

Mon Jul 22, 2013, 12:59 PM

Jul 2013

Nice to get instant asylum like that but surely it doesn't come free. Too bad there's no transparency about the conditions.

BeyondGeography

(39,374 posts)

2. He's officially in the way

Reply to ProSense (Original post)

Mon Jul 22, 2013, 12:59 PM

Jul 2013

Vlad wants that presidential visit. With Snowden out of the way he can make Obama wait three hours for him to show up, sulk during photo ops and fiddle with his pen during meetings. Ed's continued presence could deny him his fun.

Kolesar

(31,182 posts)

4. Hey

Reply to BeyondGeography (Reply #2)

Mon Jul 22, 2013, 01:03 PM

Jul 2013

I'm going to be doing some sulking today.
What about it?

flamingdem

(39,313 posts)

5. I think that Obama won't go to Moscow if Eddie is around

Reply to BeyondGeography (Reply #2)

Mon Jul 22, 2013, 01:04 PM

Jul 2013

but it sure sounds like he's staying.

Wikileaks is supposedly fundraising for a flight. One has to wonder if Moscow was the destination Assange had in mind all along.

Mojorabbit

(16,020 posts)

3. Glad to see things are moving along for him

Reply to ProSense (Original post)

Mon Jul 22, 2013, 01:01 PM

Jul 2013

Once he can get to an embassy of one of the countries who offered him asylum he will be half way there. Great news.

arely staircase

(12,482 posts)

6. all sorts of things could happen to him in moscow nt

Reply to Mojorabbit (Reply #3)

Mon Jul 22, 2013, 01:36 PM

Jul 2013

ProSense

(116,464 posts)

7. Frankly,

Reply to Mojorabbit (Reply #3)

Mon Jul 22, 2013, 02:07 PM

Jul 2013

"Glad to see things are moving along for him"

...I think his lawyer is trying to create a false impression. He has no protection from arrest simply because he is "granted papers."

He acknowledges that the process for temporary asylum could take months, and that's still carries risks.

He's not a refugee. Assange doesn't enjoy "refugee" status, which is likely why he can't leave the embassy. Snowden would not be considered a "refugee," and his situation is even more precarious, waiting for temporary asylum.

Is Edward Snowden Protected By International Law?

The Huffington Post | By Carlo Davis

<...>

The Venezuelan asylum offer resembles the diplomatic asylum Ecuador granted to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since June 2012....While Ecuador recognizes Assange as an asylum seeker, it did not give the WikiLeaks founder refugee status. Snowden's Venezuelan offer makes the same distinction. This is important, because if Snowden's Venezuelan asylum fell under UN refugee status, other signatories of the 1951 Convention would be bound, at the very least, not to return Snowden to the United States. That is not the case for asylum seekers.

<...>

SAFE PASSAGE

In addition, if Edward Snowden wants the same protection Assange enjoys, limited though it is, he will have to get himself to Venezuela or one of its embassies or consulates.

<...>

Snowden's lawyer announced on Tuesday that Snowden applied for temporary asylum in Russia. According to Professor Saul, the approval of temporary asylum could garner Snowden the travel documents necessary to fly to other countries, including Venezuela.

Even if Snowden can get a valid travel document, however, he may still have difficulty reaching Caracas. International law does not require countries to grant safe passage to domestic asylum candidates, and Spain, France and Portugal have already indicated they may refuse Snowden access to their airspace.

- more -

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/03/edward-snowden-international-law_n_3544679.html

Mojorabbit

(16,020 posts)

8. Time will tell. nt

Reply to ProSense (Reply #7)

Mon Jul 22, 2013, 02:23 PM

Jul 2013

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