RT is a 24/7 English-language news channel. We are set to show you how any story can be another story altogether. Broadcasting over six continents and 100 countries, our coverage focuses on international headlines, giving an innovative angle set to challenge viewers worldwide.The channel is government-funded but shapes its editorial policy free from political and commercial influence. Our dedicated team of news professionals unites young talent and household names in the world of broadcast journalism. We're here to bring you another story.
Posted by : Shared RT.com NewsSunday, 23 June 2013
Whistleblower Edward Snowden has stayed overnight at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport. The former CIA contractor, who left Hong Kong in a bid to elude extradition to the US on espionage charges, is on his way to a ‘third country’ via Russia.
The plane allegedly carrying Edward Snowden landed in Moscow shortly after 5pm local time on Sunday.
Crowds of press and bystanders were hoping to grab a glimpse of the world’s most famous whistleblower, but to no avail, although the confirmation has arrived that he is in the terminal building.
After Edward Snowden's plane touched down in Moscow, Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino announced via twitter that Snowden had applied for asylum. Meanwhile, Ecuador’s ambassador to Russia, Patricio Chavez, arrived at Sheremetyevo Airport allegedly to greet Snowden.
Snowden is still at the airport, an unnamed source in Sheremetyevo airport management confirmed to Interfax news agency.
"Snowden is a transit passenger, his next flight is to Cuba, he remains in the airport complex – where he’s supposed to be, waiting for the next flight," the source said.
A source at Aeroflot Russian Airlines told the agency that the whistleblower, who is accompanied by WikiLeaks representative, Sarah Harrison, has rented a suit at the airport’s «V-Express» Capsule Hotel.
“He arrived. But he can’t leave the terminal because he doesn’t have a Russian visa,” the source said.
Two cars with diplomatic license plates of Ecuador – the country named among Snowden’s possible destinations – were spotted at Sheremetyevo airport.
Interfax news agency is citing an unnamed source in Sheremetyevo airport management, saying that Snowden is still at the airport.
"Snowden is a transit passenger, his next flight is to Cuba, he remains in the airport complex – where he’s supposed to be, waiting for the next flight," the source said.
A source in the Aeroflot company told the agency that the whistleblower, who is accompanied by WikiLeaks representative, Sarah Harrison, has rented a suit at the airport’s «V-Express» Capsule Hotel.
“He arrived. But he can’t leave the terminal because he doesn’t have a Russian visa,” the source said.
Two cars with diplomatic numbers of Ecuador – the country named among Snowden’s possible destinations – were spotted at Sheremetyevo airport.
RT’s source reported a doctor from the Ecuadorian embassy in Moscow has examined Snowden on his arrival in the Russian capital.
waiting for #Snowden
-- a crowd of journos and confused passengers #wikileaks #cia pic.twitter.com/r8vM1RsKXM — Irina Galushko (@IrinaGalushkoRT) June 23, 2013
WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, told Australian Sydney Morning
Herald paper that Snowden will be met by “diplomats from the
country that will be his ultimate destination” in the
airport, who’ll accompany him on a further flight to his
destination.
A diplomatic car waiting near Sheremetyevo airport. (Photo by Irina Galushko, RT)
Earlier, a spokesperson from the Hong Kong government confirmed
that Edward Snowden had "legally and voluntarily" left the
country.
“Mr. Edward Snowden left Hong Kong today (June 23) on his own
accord for a third country through a lawful and normal
channel,” said the Hong Kong government in a press release.
The statement also said the documents for Snowden’s extradition
submitted by Washington “did not fully comply with the legal
requirements under Hong Kong law.”
“As the HKSAR Government has yet to have sufficient
information to process the request for a provisional warrant of
arrest, there is no legal basis to restrict Mr. Snowden from
leaving Hong Kong.”
WikiLeaks legal aid
Whistleblowing organization WikiLeaks has rallied behind Snowden
and said they are assisting him in his bid for political asylum
in a “democratic country.” The group announced on Twitter
that they helped obtain “travel documents” and ensured his
safe exit from Hong Kong. Diplomats and legal advisors from
WikiLeaks legal team is also accompanying the NSA leaker on his
flight to Moscow, WikiLeaks said in a statement.
FLASH: Mr. Snowden is currently over Russian airspace
accompanied by WikiLeaks legal advisors.
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) June
23, 2013
A source from Aeroflot told Interfax that Snowden is on flight SU213 to Moscow, landing on Sunday afternoon.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin was unaware of Snowden’s plans to fly to Moscow. The US has filed an extradition order against Snowden for espionage, theft and conversion of government property.
It is understood that 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.
Citing a source close to Snowden, Russian news agency Interfax reported that the whistleblower’s final destination will be Venezuela with a transfer in Havana, Cuba. He will reportedly be on flight SU150 to Havana, leaving Moscow on Monday and then on flight V-04101 to Caracas.
“He chose such a complicated route in the hope that he would not be arrested on the way to his final destination of Venezuela,” the source told Interfax.
The US will seek cooperation with governments of countries where Snowden may go, Justice Department Spokeswoman Nanda Chitre stated on Sunday.
“We will continue to discuss this matter with Hong Kong and pursue relevant law enforcement cooperation with other countries where Mr. Snowden may be attempting to travel,” she said, as cited by Reuters.
'More whistleblowers will follow'
The emergence of whistleblowers like Julian Assange, Bradley Manning and now Edward Snowden means the world will have an increasingly clearer view of the actual state of affairs, Pepe Escobar, an Asia Times correspondent in Hong Kong told RT.
“Definitely, we’re going to have a collection of Assanges, Mannings and Snowdens from now on, especially from the US tech geeks who are extremely uncomfortable with this Orwellian panopticon surveillance thing: not only in the US as we’ve seen some revelations on Britain as well. It is an Anglo-American thing. Of course everybody is involved in cyber wars, but the forefront is the US,” Escobar argues.
Don Debar, an anti-war activist and journalist, believes that Snowden’s actions will encourage more whistleblowers to come out.
“You have Bradley Manning and they throw him on ice, basically naked in a cell for a couple of years and threaten him with the death penalty. After him you have Assange and now you have Snowden and I only hope more will come out and people will start to listen here in the United States and do something about it.”
