Edward Snowden Files For Political Asylum In Russia

vikingpower writes "The official Russian Press agency Interfax has the scoop: Edward Snowden asks for political asylum in Russia (Google Translate). Russia Today, however, denies the news. Is this part of a clever disinformation move by Snowden, who reportedly is still in the Moscow airport Sheremetyevo 2?" The Washington Post is also reporting Snowden did apply for asylum in Russia. Snowden released a statement last night through Wikileaks, quoting: "For decades the United States of America has been one of the strongest defenders of the human right to seek asylum. Sadly, this right, laid out and voted for by the U.S. in Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is now being rejected by the current government of my country. The Obama administration has now adopted the strategy of using citizenship as a weapon. Although I am convicted of nothing, it has unilaterally revoked my passport, leaving me a stateless person. Without any judicial order, the administration now seeks to stop me exercising a basic right. A right that belongs to everybody. The right to seek asylum."

Comments

Re:We have met the enemy

[gsgriffin]

I think you are being suckered by the media slant on reporting.

The US has and still does provide asylum for political reasons. What that means is that if a person is standing up or being accused of something that is POLITICAL in nature in a country (NOT A LEGAL ISSUE), then they can seek asylum. If the legal issue is also political, then there is cause.

In this case, it is similar to any other crime of State where someone has done something, admitted to it, and needs to be brought to justice. If someone raped, stole, caused harm or broke another law in our country (especially if it is high profile), they will receive the same treatment as Snowden. If someone does something illegal (and not political) in another country, we will gladly send them back. We don't need more illegals or law breakers in our country. Have enough already.