Edward Snowden. (AFP Photo / The Guardian)

US whistleblower Edward Snowden is en route to Moscow from Hong Kong on an Aeroflot flight,  Hong Kong authorities have confirmed. The US has filed an extradition order against Snowden for espionage, theft and conversion of government property.

A spokesperson from the Hong Kong government confirmed to press 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 provisional warrant of arrest, there is no legal basis to restrict Mr. Snowden from leaving Hong Kong.” The only Aeroflot flight that arrives from Hong Kong into Moscow’s Sheremetevo airport today is at 17:05 local time (13:05 GMT). 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 Russian news agency Itar-Tass that no request for asylum in Russia had been received from the former CIA employee.

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