Edward Snowden may be stuck in the Moscow airport for quite some time, as Ecuadoran officials say that it could take “months” to decide whether or not to grant the whistleblower asylum.
The process isn’t a speedy one to begin with, and US threats of crippling economic retaliation are likely to slow the matter considerable. Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino says the decision to give Julian Assange asylum took two months, and the US wouldn’t even admit to having charges against him at the time.
The US decision to void Snowden’s passport may keep the whistleblower stuck in the airport indefinitely until a decision is reached, as he apparently would not be able to continue on until he gets some sort of refugee documentation from the Ecuador government, and that’s unlikely to come until a decision is made on asylum.
WikiLeaks is helping with Snowden’s efforts to reach asylum, and have rejected allegations that he has been captured by Russian officials to be interrogated on US surveillance data. Russian officials also deny that claim, saying Snowden is still in the “international” area of the Sheremetyevo Airport and can leave as soon as he finds someplace to go.
Cowards. They'll just cave in to US pressure. How long can it take to make a decision like this? This would be the first time that bozo of Correa actually tries to think anything through.
Somebody better do something quick before hitmen are sent to take Snowden out since Russia insists on making it know that the airport transit area is some no man's land.
Very astute about the Russians describing their airport as no man's land. Is it possible they have taken what they want from Snowden, and served him up as an empty husk? But what our government, if it takes him out, may not have bargained on is that 1) it would be an attack on Russian sovereignty which would be costly and thus a trap and 2) there would be a sympathetic response among many in the US which might result in further whistle blowing — as in "I am Edward Snowden"…like Spartacus. In some ways the US is probably still interested in a show trial to warn off others like him.
Snowden must ask Russia for asylum until this thing is sorted out. He can always go to Ecuador or Venezuela once they've made their final decision. The only other alternative is to spend the next few months in the airport. I've a feeling that if he requested asylum in Russia until this Ecuador thing is sorted out, Putin would in all likelihood grant it. Even Amnesty International is supporting Russia's position on this – a rarity indeed, and Putin would love sticking it to the US for a change on this issue since the US are the ones always harassing him about "human rights."
I sincerely hope, you will be proved right!
Agree. But I suspect he's concerned about not giving the impression of working with "the enemy".
It’s just a matter of time before the US drone this guy, they have no interest in arresting him. Dead men tell no tales.
Stuck at an airport? What is this, "The Terminal" with Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta Jones?
Thanks for jogging my memory for the title. That's exactly what came to mind.