12/07/2013 18:45
Snowden surfaces, plans to seek temporary asylum in Russia
American spy fugitive Edward Snowden emerged from his hideout in the Moscow airport today to speak with international human rights groups, almost three weeks after he first disappeared inside the vast Russian facility, to say he plans to seek temporary asylum in Russia, ABC News reported, citing meeting attendees.
Human Rights Watch official Tanya Lokshina who was in the meeting, told ABC News Snowden is applying for asylum in Russia and asked the rights groups to petition Russian President Vladimir Putin to grant it to him. Putin previously said Snowden was welcome to stay in his country, but only as long as he stops linformation that "damages our U.S. partners."
Snowden said in the meeting that Putin's condition should not be a problem. "No actions I take or plan are meant to harm the U.S.," Snowden reportedly said. "I want the U.S. to succeed."
A Russian political scientist who was also in the meeting confirmed to reporters afterwards Snowden planned to seek asylum in Russia.
Lokshina said Snowden revealed he had received asylum offers from several South American nations, including Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Ecuador. Snowden said he accepts all offers and plans to eventually go to South America, as he didn't see Russia as a long-term option.
The meeting comes a day after The Guardian columnist Glenn Greenwald, who has worked with Snowden to report on the NSA's secret vast domestic and international surveillance programs, told ABC News that their work is not even half done.
"The majority of it remains to be done, and that includes stories that are at least as significant, if not more significant than the ones we've already done," Greenwald said.