Russia defying US over Snowden
Source: Agencies |
June 25, 2013, Tuesday
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Former United States spy agency contractor Edward Snowden's whereabouts were a mystery yesterday as Russia resisted White House pressure to send him back to the US or stop him continuing on his journey to escape US prosecution.
Snowden, whose exposure of secret US government surveillance raised questions about intrusions into private lives, was allowed to leave Hong Kong on Sunday despite Washington asking for his arrest on espionage charges.
Julian Assange, the founder of anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks which is assisting Snowden, said the 30-year-old had fled to Moscow en route to Ecuador and was in good health in a "safe place" but did not say where he is now.
There are no direct flights to Ecuador from Moscow and reports that he would fly there via Cuba were put in doubt when witnesses could not see him on the plane, despite tight security before take-off.
"He didn't take the flight," a source at Russia's national airline Aeroflot said.
A WikiLeaks spokesman said that an approach had also been made to Iceland for asylum.
Ecuador, which is already sheltering Assange at its London embassy, said it was considering Snowden's request for asylum and that human rights were its main concern.
As speculation grew about where he would go next, Washington was stung by Russian defiance.
Snowden's flight to Russia is an embarrassment to President Barack Obama who has tried to "reset" ties with Moscow and build a partnership with Beijing.
The White House said it expected the Russian government to send Snowden back to the US and lodged "strong objections" to Hong Kong and Beijing for letting him go.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said during a visit to India that it would be "deeply troubling" if Moscow defied the US over Snowden, and said the fugitive "places himself above the law, having betrayed his country."
But the Russian government ignored the appeal and President Vladimir Putin's press secretary denied any knowledge of Snowden's movements.
Asked if Snowden had spoken to the Russian authorities, Peskov said: "Overall, we have no information about him."
He declined comment on the expulsion request but other Russian officials said Moscow had no obligation to cooperate with Washington, after it passed legislation to impose visa bans and asset freezes on Russians accused of violating human rights.
Russian news agency Interfax quoted an unnamed source as saying Moscow could not arrest or deport Snowden because he had not entered Russian territory - suggesting he had remained in the transit area at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport.
"Why should the United States expect restraint and understanding from Russia?" said Alexei Pushkov, the head of the foreign affairs committee in the lower house of parliament.
Since leaving Hong Kong, where he feared arrest and extradition, Snowden has been searching for a country that can guarantee his security.
Ecuador's Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino said during a trip to Vietnam that Quito would take into account a US request about Snowden and is in "respectful" contact with Russia about him. He gave no details of the US request.
"We will consider the position of the US government and we will take a decision in due course in line with the (Ecuadorean) constitution, the laws, international politics and sovereignty," Patino told a news conference in Hanoi.
A source at Aeroflot said on Sunday that Snowden was booked on the flight due to depart for Havana yesterday afternoon.
But a reporter aboard could not see him and the seat he was supposed to occupy, 17A, was taken by another passenger.
Snowden, whose exposure of secret US government surveillance raised questions about intrusions into private lives, was allowed to leave Hong Kong on Sunday despite Washington asking for his arrest on espionage charges.
Julian Assange, the founder of anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks which is assisting Snowden, said the 30-year-old had fled to Moscow en route to Ecuador and was in good health in a "safe place" but did not say where he is now.
There are no direct flights to Ecuador from Moscow and reports that he would fly there via Cuba were put in doubt when witnesses could not see him on the plane, despite tight security before take-off.
"He didn't take the flight," a source at Russia's national airline Aeroflot said.
A WikiLeaks spokesman said that an approach had also been made to Iceland for asylum.
Ecuador, which is already sheltering Assange at its London embassy, said it was considering Snowden's request for asylum and that human rights were its main concern.
As speculation grew about where he would go next, Washington was stung by Russian defiance.
Snowden's flight to Russia is an embarrassment to President Barack Obama who has tried to "reset" ties with Moscow and build a partnership with Beijing.
The White House said it expected the Russian government to send Snowden back to the US and lodged "strong objections" to Hong Kong and Beijing for letting him go.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said during a visit to India that it would be "deeply troubling" if Moscow defied the US over Snowden, and said the fugitive "places himself above the law, having betrayed his country."
But the Russian government ignored the appeal and President Vladimir Putin's press secretary denied any knowledge of Snowden's movements.
Asked if Snowden had spoken to the Russian authorities, Peskov said: "Overall, we have no information about him."
He declined comment on the expulsion request but other Russian officials said Moscow had no obligation to cooperate with Washington, after it passed legislation to impose visa bans and asset freezes on Russians accused of violating human rights.
Russian news agency Interfax quoted an unnamed source as saying Moscow could not arrest or deport Snowden because he had not entered Russian territory - suggesting he had remained in the transit area at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport.
"Why should the United States expect restraint and understanding from Russia?" said Alexei Pushkov, the head of the foreign affairs committee in the lower house of parliament.
Since leaving Hong Kong, where he feared arrest and extradition, Snowden has been searching for a country that can guarantee his security.
Ecuador's Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino said during a trip to Vietnam that Quito would take into account a US request about Snowden and is in "respectful" contact with Russia about him. He gave no details of the US request.
"We will consider the position of the US government and we will take a decision in due course in line with the (Ecuadorean) constitution, the laws, international politics and sovereignty," Patino told a news conference in Hanoi.
A source at Aeroflot said on Sunday that Snowden was booked on the flight due to depart for Havana yesterday afternoon.
But a reporter aboard could not see him and the seat he was supposed to occupy, 17A, was taken by another passenger.
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