Snowden’s father defies lawyers to talk to his son
Print Edition
Edward Snowden’s father has contacted his son for the first time via the Internet in defiance of legal advice, the US leaker’s Russian lawyer said yesterday.
The 30-year-old former US National Security Agency contractor received asylum in Russia on August 1, after spending more than five weeks stranded in a Moscow airport avoiding extradition to the US.
Snowden is wanted by the United States on espionage charges linked to his media disclosures about the secret details of US surveillance programs.
Attorney Anatoly Kucherena said Snowden and his father Lon had recently chatted via the Internet. The father has obtained a Russian visa and is expected soon to visit his son in person.
“This decision (to contact Edward Snowden) was taken by Lon Snowden independently, contrary to the recommendation of his attorneys,” the RIA Novosti news agency quoted Kucherena as saying.
“Fatherly feelings turned out to be stronger than security concerns,” said the lawyer. “But we still do not recommend that they communicate via the web, even using encrypted channels, although we understand that Edward is a technology expert.”
The younger Snowden’s stay in Moscow has been shrouded in secrecy and his current whereabouts are unknown.
The dates and other circumstances of Lon Snowden’s upcoming visit to Moscow have also been kept under wraps.
The Father earlier told US media that while he wanted Edward to return home at some point he did not believe that his son could get a fair trial in the US.
Kucherena said that neither the Snowden family nor their attorneys would disclose the dates of Lon Snowden’s visit to Moscow “out of security concerns.”
“This is the family’s wish,” he said. “When the father comes here with his lawyer and the family consultations are held, he will then be able to disclose this to reporters and answer any questions that may exist.”
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