Edward Snowden: the whistleblower behind the NSA surveillance revelations

[Cidersomerset]

Putin: Snowden will leave Russia as soon as he gets opportunity

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ho19sQIRzNk

Published on 15 Jul 2013


NSA-leaker Edward Snowden will leave Russia as soon
as he gets such opportunity, but for now the situation
is unclear, says Russian President Vladimir Putin

[Cidersomerset]

Legal Limbo: Snowden applies for temporary asylum in Russia

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=TUqUqmrAPyU

Published on 16 Jul 2013


NSA leaker Edward Snowden has officially requested temporary asylum in
Russia, according to a lawyer who's been working with him. The
whistleblower's been stranded in a Moscow airport for over three weeks
now. John Laughland, Director of Studies at the Institute of Democracy
and Cooperation, joins RT's studio to discuss the matter.

[Cidersomerset]

US citizen has no right to free speech?' State Dept spokesperson grilled over Snowden

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=GDFIVVmXE-g

Published on 16 Jul 2013


Tensions are high as NSA leaker Edward Snowden officially submitted application for
temporary asylum in Russia on Tuesday. After Russian and international human rights
advocates and lawyers met with Snowden at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport on Friday,
the US said it is disappointed in Russia for considering the whistleblowers asylum.
During a daily press briefing State Department spokeswoman, Jen Psaki was given a
thorough grilling on the Snowden affair by journalists, including AP's Matthew Lee and
CNN's Elise Labott and was left lost for words at almost every turn.





--------------------------------------------------------------------

Lawyer: Snowden has no plans to leave Russia, might seek citizenship

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=r-2iJMXSFT4

Published on 17 Jul 2013


The man who exposed America's global surveillance network,
Edward Snowden may be looking to settle in Russia - at least
for the mid-term. The whistle blower has been stuck at a
Moscow airport for three weeks now - because he lacks the
papers to leave. Live to RT's Andrew Farmer and we are
joined by RT contributor Afshin Rattansi.

[Cidersomerset]

Snowden saga: to stay or not to stay in Russia?

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=0L4_I9X13Qc

Published on 17 Jul 2013


NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden's stay in a Moscow airport may soon be
ending. He could be leaving the airport transit zone in the next few days - if he
receives the necessary paperwork from the Russian government while his asylum
request is being processed. However, according to his attorney, Snowden still
doesn't think it's safe to leave Russia and travel to South and Central America,
where nations have offered him political asylum. Snowden has shown an interest in
staying in Russia, applying for citizenship. But Russian President Vladimir Putin has
put conditions on Snowden's refuge: new leaks that harm the United Sates won't
be tolerated. So where do things go from here? RT'S Madina Kochenova joins us
from Moscow.

[fifi]

A fun one to read...
http://www.happyplace.com/24470/a-lo...nline-activity

"A love letter to the NSA agent who is monitoring my online activity.
posted 06/13/2013

[Lucc30]

Posted by fifi (here)
A fun one to read...
http://www.happyplace.com/24470/a-lo...nline-activity
........

Priceless!

[Cidersomerset]

Terrorist-friendly? US denies Russian requests to extradite criminals

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Xr7gX1wXXVM

Published on 22 Jul 2013


The US has expressed its concern over the fugitive whistleblower
Edward Snowden's bid for temporary asylum in Russia. Moscow's
expected to grant that request - and says the lack of an extradition
treaty with Washington makes handing him over impossible.
However, US routinely denies Russian requests to hand over
suspected criminals living in America.

[Cidersomerset]

US Extradition Hypocrisy

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=PmIHuNtqJwI

Published on 22 Jul 2013


US lawmakers continue to pressure Russia and other nations to comply
with extradition requests for Edward Snowden. But a recent extradition
case with an accused Chechen terrorist shows that that United States
has routinely declined to comply with other nations' extradition requests.
Can our lawmakers really expect allies to give a favor that the United States
is unwilling to give to them? RT Political Commentator Sam Sacks reports.

[Cidersomerset]

Media frenzy at Moscow airport on Snowden exit reports

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=hUi2w5huQZo

Published on 24 Jul 2013


Russia's Immigration Service has reportedly granted entry permission to NSA
whistleblower Edward Snowden, who has been stranded at a Moscow airport since
last month.



===================================================

Snowden wants to stay in Russia indefinitely - Lawyer to RT

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=jx9AYPBzhZU

Published on 24 Jul 2013


Lawyer Anatoly Kucherena says Snowden's asylum bid is still being
reviewed by immigration authorities and that the whistleblower will
have to stay at Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport, but confirmed that
the NSA-leaker will live in Russia. He assured that Snowden is
staying in good conditions.

[Cidersomerset]

Snowden allowed into Russia

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=tABwdFXqkjE

Published on 24 Jul 2013


Edward Snowden, who is wanted in the States after leaking information about the
work of the US security agencies, was issued documents allowing him to leave the
transit lounge of a Moscow airport.

[Sir Eltor]

Hey Cidersomerset , just wanted to give you a big thanks for the threads entirety

[Cidersomerset]

US threatens nations aiding Snowden, Latin America welcomes whistleblower

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=eeS4thSKlhQ

Published on 26 Jul 2013


The man who exposed the scope of the NSA's surveillance to the
world is still waiting for the paperwork to allow him to leave a
Moscow airport transit zone. That as U.S. lawmakers voted to
introduce trade or other sanctions against any country offering
asylum to Edward Snowden. Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega
exclusively talks to RT and tell why Snowden is welcome there.

[Cidersomerset]

26 July 2013 Last updated at 16:31

Russia and US security services 'in talks' over Snowden



Edward Snowden Mr Snowden has said his preferred destination would be
somewhere in Latin America Continue reading the main story.The American FBI and
Russian FSB security services are "in talks" over US fugitive Edward Snowden,
according to the Russian president's spokesman. However, Dmitry Peskov repeated
Russia's position that it would "not hand anyone over".Mr Snowden has been stuck
in transit at a Moscow airport for the past month as he has no valid travel
documents.

The US Attorney General, Eric Holder, has sought to assure Moscow he would not
face the death penalty in America. Washington wants him extradited for leaking
details of surveillance programmes.

Diplomatic ructions

Mr Peskov did not specify what the nature of the talks between the agencies was.
He did, however, remind reporters that President Vladimir Putin had expressed a
strong determination not to allow the case to interfere with US-Russian relations.
Mr Putin had not taken part in any discussions with the American authorities over
Mr Snowden case, Mr Peskov said.Mr Snowden "has not made any request that
would require examination by the head of state", Mr Peskov added.

The Russian president has refused to hand him to the American authorities, but
said he could stay in Russia only if he stopped leaking US secrets.Mr Snowden,
whose passport has been cancelled by the US, has been in the transit area of
Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport since arriving from Hong Kong on 23 June On
Thursday Mr Snowden's lawyer Anatoly Kucherena denied earlier reports that Mr
Snowden had been given Russian travel documents.

Mr Snowden has requested temporary asylum in Russia, and said recently his
favoured final destination was Latin America.In a letter to Russian Justice Minister
Alexander Konovalov, Mr Holder said that the charges against Mr Snowden were
not punishable by death.If additional charges were brought which could incur
capital punishment, the US would not seek to impose such a penalty, he added.

The Snowden affair has caused diplomatic ructions around the world, upsetting
America's close allies and traditional enemies.Leaks by the former CIA worker have
led to revelations that the US National Security Agency (NSA) is collecting
Americans' phone records.On Wednesday evening, an attempt to block funding for
the programme narrowly failed in a 205-217 vote in the US House of
Representatives.

The White House had lobbied Congress to support the surveillance.

Opponents of the US, including Bolivia, Venezuela and Nicaragua, have all

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23468459

[Cidersomerset]

US threatens sanctions on countries who aid Snowden

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=gVNYqCLGmCo

Published on 26 Jul 2013


On Thursday evening, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) spearheaded
legislation that would implement sanctions against any country that
would assist NSA leaker Edward Snowden. The proposition quickly
passed the Senate Committee unanimously and will head for a vote
to the Senate floor. RT's Erin Ade discusses the situation with
Doctor Christian Humborg with Transparency International.

[Cidersomerset]

Snowden Ping Pong: Edward still in transit limbo, as US spouts new

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=gqApdmoY4lo

Published on 28 Jul 2013


There's been a fresh round of diplomatic wrangling over Edward Snowden between
Russia and the US - as the world expected the fugitive whistleblower to leave a
Moscow airport this week. The Former NSA contractor has been stranded in the
transit zone there for a month now - currently waiting for Moscow's decision on
his temporary asylum request. RT's Lindsay France recaps all the twists and
turns in the Snowden Saga.

[Openmindedskeptic]

“Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?' Expediency asks the question, 'Is
it politic?' But conscience asks the question, 'Is it right?' And there comes a
time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor
popular but because conscience tells one it is right.” - Martin Luther King Jr.

Every day that goes by we as US citizens learn more details which unequivocally confirm that Edward Snowden is a patriotic hero. Thank you Mr. Snowden for having the conscience to ask if what you were doing at the NSA was right.

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=jQP6JtjBy3c

[Cidersomerset]

Snowden granted 1 yr asylum in Russia, leaves airport to undisclosed location

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=twqyvw-h3ns

Published on 1 Aug 2013


NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden has been granted temporary asylum in Russia
and is allowed to enter the country's territory. The whistleblower has been granted
temporary political asylum in Russia, Snowden's legal representative Anatoly
Kucherena said.







Snowden granted 1-year asylum in Russia, leaves airport (PHOTOS) Published
time: August 01, 2013 11:45

Edited time: August 01, 2013 14:08


Photos on link...
http://rt.com/news/snowden-entry-papers-russia-902/
Russia, Snowden, USA

NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden has been granted temporary asylum in Russia
and is allowed to enter the country’s territory.The whistleblower has been granted
temporary political asylum in Russia, Snowden's legal representative Anatoly
Kucherena said, with his words later confirmed by Russia’s Federal Migration
service.

“I have just handed over to him papers from the Russian Immigration Service.
They are what he needs to leave the transit zone,” he added.

Kucherena showed a photocopy of the document to the press. According to it,
Snowden is free to stay in Russia until at least July 31, 2014. His asylum status
may be extended annually upon request. With his newly-awarded legal status in
Russia, Snowden cannot be handed over to the US authorities, even if Washington
files an official request. He can now be transported to the United States only if he
agrees to go voluntarily. Snowden departed at around 15.30 Moscow time (11.30
GMT), airport sources said. His departure came some 30 minutes before his new
refugee status was officially announced. His present location has not been made
public nor will it be disclosed, Kucherena said.

“He is the most wanted person on earth and his security will be a priority,” the
attorney explained. “He will deal with personal security issues and lodging himself.
I will just consult him as his lawyer.”

Snowden eventually intends to talk to the press in Russia, but needs at least one
day of privacy, Kucherena said.


The whistleblower was unaccompanied when he left the airport in a regular taxi,
Kucherena added. However, WikiLeaks contradicted the lawyer, saying the
organization’s activist Sarah Harrison accompanied Snowden. Russia is confident
that the latest development in the Snowden case will not affect US President Barack
Obama’s upcoming visit to Moscow, presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said.

“We are aware of the atmosphere being created in the US over Snowden, but we
didn’t get any signals [indicating a possible cancellation of the visit] from American
authorities,” he told RIA Novosti.

Snowden, a former CIA employee and NSA contractor, came to international
prominence after leaking several classified documents detailing massive electronic
surveillance by the US government and foreign allies who collaborated with them.



Photo of Edward Snowden leaving Sheremetyevo Airport (Video still from http://www.vesti.ru)

Snowden was hiding out in a Hong Kong hotel when he first went public in May.
Amidst mounting US pressure on both Beijing and local authorities in the former-
British colony to hand the whistleblower over for prosecution, Snowden flew to
Moscow on June 23.

Moscow was initially intended as a temporary stopover on his journey, as Snowden
was believed to be headed to Ecuador via Cuba. However, he ended up getting
stranded at Sheremetyevo Airport after the US government revoked his passport.
Snowden could neither leave Russia nor enter it, forcing him to remain in the
airport’s transit zone. In July, Snowden applied for temporary asylum in Russia, a
status that would allow him to live and work in the country for one year. Kucherena
earlier said the fugitive whistleblower is considering securing permanent residency
in Russia, where he will attempt to build a life.


http://rt.com/news/snowden-entry-papers-russia-902/
==================================================




1 August 2013 Last updated at 14:04

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=TeNj7Dw_B7E

Snowden leaves airport after getting asylum in RussiaA photocopy of the document
given to Edward Snowden, shown by lawyer Anatoly Kucherena, 1 August Lawyer
Anatoly Kucherena showed a photocopy of the document given to Mr Snowden



US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has left the Moscow airport where he has
been staying since June after being granted temporary asylum.He left unobserved
after receiving, his lawyer said, the necessary papers to enter Russian territory
from Sheremetyevo Airport's transit zone.The US has charged Mr Snowden with
leaking details of its electronic surveillance programmes.Russia's decision is likely
to further strain its ties with the US.

A strongly worded US reaction can be expected shortly, as the news sinks in in the
US, the BBC's Daniel Sandford reports from Moscow. Mr Snowden arrived in
Moscow on 23 June from Hong Kong, after making his revelations.The Snowden
affair has caused diplomatic ructions around the world, upsetting the United States'
close allies and traditional enemies.

'Most pursued man'


Mr Snowden left the airport around 14:00 local time (10:00 GMT), the airport press
office told the BBC.Despite the heavy presence of news organisations at the airport,
his departure was apparently not spotted by media. The lawyer, Anatoly
Kucherena, said: "His location is not being made public for security reasons since
he is the most pursued man on the planet. He himself will decide where he will go."

The whistleblowing organisation Wikileaks, which has been helping him since he
made his revelations, said in a tweet that he had been given asylum.

"Edward Snowden was granted temporary asylum in Russia for a year and has now
left Moscow airport under the care of Wikileaks' Sarah Harrison," it said.

Ms Harrison is a member of the Wikileaks legal team and has been helping Mr
Snowden.

Mr Kucherena also said he had been awarded temporary asylum.

US Attorney General Eric Holder has given Moscow an assurance that Mr Snowden
will not face the death penalty

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23535524

===================================================




Snowden finally leaves Moscow airport after Russia grants him asylum in the
country for one year

The U.S. whistleblower had lacked necessary document he needed to cross into
Russia He had been kept in designated security areas in Moscow AirportTaken to
secure location after he is given a year of asylum in RussiaOfficials insist saga will
not damage country's ties with the U.S.


By Hugo Gye and Will Stewart In Moscow

PUBLISHED: 13:11, 1 August 2013 | UPDATED: 13:55, 1 August 2013



Out: Edward Snowden has left the Moscow airport where he had been living for the past month

Edward Snowden has finally been allowed to leave the airport in Moscow where he
has been living for over a month after he received a document granting him asylum
in Russia for one year.The American fugitive wanted for leaking classified
intelligence documents stepped out of Sheremetyevo airport this afternoon after
weeks spent in legal limbo.His Russian lawyer Anatoly Kucherena said: 'I have just
handed him the documents from the Russian Federal Migration Service. They allow
him to leave the airport.'He added: 'I have just seen him off. He has left for a
secure location. Security is a very serious matter for him.'

Snowden slipped out of the airport in a taxi without being spotted by the dozens of
reporters and photographers who have camped out in the airport for weeks.
'He is the most wanted man on planet Earth,' his lawyer said. 'What do you think
he is going to do? He has to think about his personal security. I cannot tell you
where he is going.


'I put him in a taxi 15 to 20 minutes ago and gave him his certificate on getting
refugee status in the Russian Federation. He can live wherever he wants in Russia.
It's his personal choice.'The refugee was accompanied by Sarah Harrison, a British
representative of WikiLeaks who has been staying with Snowden in the airport.
The group tweeted: 'Edward Snowden has successfully acquired refugee status in
Russia and will shortly leave the airport.'

It added: 'We would like to thank the Russian people and all those others who have
helped to protect Mr Snowden. We have won the battle - now the war.'


Gone: Snowden's lawyer Anatoly Kucherena announced that his client had been granted asylum today



Long stay: Snowden has been in legal limbo in the airport for more than a month since arriving in Hong Kong

The 30-year-old has apparently agreed not to disclose any more classified
information as a condition of his remaining in Russia.Snowden faces living under
strict curbs imposed by the Russian security agencies even though he has been
allowed to move from his hideaway in an airport transit zone.


More...
Stripped of his rank and facing the rest of his life behind bars: Bradley Manning's
lawyers prepare him to take the stand in desperate bid to avoid 136-YEAR sentence
OJ Simpson's prison time cut after pleading with parole board that he was a 'model
inmate' - but he will be behind bars for at least four more yearsHe arrived at
Sheremetyevo from Hong Kong on June 23 but was unable to leave because the
U.S. had revoked his passport.The runaway's movements will initially be strictly
curtailed, but President Vladimir Putin has denied his intelligence services are
seeking secrets known to the former contractor for the National Security Agency.

The revelation will fuel U.S. concerns that further sensitive data is in jeopardy and
could fall into the hands of the Russian government. The White House has
been ‘seeking clarity’ about Snowden's status.


Paperwork: Kucherena announced today that the relevant documents had been
given to SnowdenExit: Airport security staff secured an area yesterday in
preparation for Snowden to leave the airport at last

Vladimir Volokh, the head of the public council of the Russian Federal Migration
Service, insisted: ‘He will only be allowed to stay in places designated by Russian
law enforcement agencies.’

Kremlin official Yuri Ushakov insisted today that the long-running saga would not
affect ties between the U.S. and Russia, saying Snowden's case was 'relatively
insignificant'.


He added: 'Our president has expressed hope many times that this will not affect
the character of our relations.'

Snowden has indicated he later hopes to secure exile in South America with offers
from Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua, but this week his lawyer said he might
apply for Russian citizenship.

‘Edward also asked me to thank all the women in Russia for offering him to marry
them,’ added the lawyer. ‘He was in stitches of laughter when he heard that there
were a lot of such proposals.

‘I passed him some clothes. I noticed that each time we meet he wears one and the
same shirt.

‘So I went out and bought him some shirts and trousers so that he at least could
have a chance to change. There is no laundry or ironing service in the conditions
where he lives right now.’

Home: Snowden has been in Sheremetyevo Airport (pictured) since arriving from
Hong Kong on June 23

Dragging on: View of Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, which Snowden has called
home for a month now. He nearly got out Tuesday night but his hopes were dashed
as a bureaucratic snag halted his plans
Dragging on: View of Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, which Snowden called home
for a month He brought the fugitive classic Russian books by Anton Chekhov, and
Fyodor Dostoyevsky's novel Crime and Punishment.The novel is about the mental
anguish and moral dilemmas of a poor ex-student who kills a pawnbroker for her
cash, but Kucherena said: ‘I'm not implying he's going through a similar mental
anguish.’Russia has rejected White House calls for Snowden to be deported to the
US to face espionage charges for leaking details of the NSA's wide-ranging spying
activities targeting data and phone communication. Volokh confirmed Snowden
would ‘not be extradited to any country where his life might be in danger, because
he has applied for asylum here.’ Putin demanded that Snowden stops leaking
secrets damaging to the U.S. while he is in Russia.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz2aj3zwwMd
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

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Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=YTDVrnWQNH4

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Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=ESNlQ6TfED0

[Cidersomerset]

Snowden Sidestep: Latest NSA leaks fall on deaf ears in Washington

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=hbMDkKo_gls

Published on 3 Aug 2013


Backlash from Snowden's latest leaks as expected the UK
and the US government are diverting public attention from
the much-criticized practices. People's discontent is simply
being ignored. RT's Gayane Chichyakyan takes a closer look.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leaker's Labour's Won: Snowden's 5 week airport limbo as it was

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=1g7zO0g8wsY

Published on 4 Aug 2013


One chapter in Edward Snowden's saga was closed this week.
The US whistleblower on-the-run has finally left the transit limbo
of a Moscow airport, where he's been stuck for more than a month.
Snowden's been granted temporary asylum in Russia - and has
already received some job offers, including one from Russia's
biggest social network. While his whereabouts at the moment
remain unknown, RT's Lindsay France recaps the media's chase
for the former NSA contractor.


------------------------------------------------------------------
No Credit For Snowden in Congress

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=NuaFG8De4mA

Published on 5 Aug 2013


Over the weekend, Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) called Edward Snowden a "whistleblower."
But he's one of the only Members of Congress willing to give any praise to Snowden at all.
Even lawmakers who've taken the most advantage of the NSA leaks to write new legislation
aren't willing to give any credit to Snowden. RT's Political Commentator Sam Sacks takes
a closer look

[Openmindedskeptic]

US should leave Edward Snowden alone

More than 150 civil society organizations from around the globe are asking President Barack Obama to end the prosecution of Edward Snowden.

Human rights, digital rights and media freedom campaigners from the UK to Uruguay and from the US to Uganda have joined together to call on the US administration to acknowledge Snowden as a whistleblower. All of us ask that he is protected and not persecuted.

Link to article.

Meanwhile...

Obama cancels upcoming meeting with Putin

President Obama will cancel a planned meeting in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin amid mounting anger over Russia’s decision to allow National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden into the country, the White House said Wednesday.

[Cidersomerset]

Quote More than 150 civil society organizations from around the globe are asking President Barack Obama to end the prosecution of Edward Snowden.

Human rights, digital rights and media freedom campaigners from the UK to
Uruguay and from the US to Uganda have joined together to call on the US
administration to acknowledge Snowden as a whistleblower. All of us ask that he is
protected and not persecuted.
Link to article.

US should leave Edward Snowden alone


The Guardian, Tuesday 6 August 2013 21.01 BST


Edward Snowden






NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. Photograph: Glenn Greenwald and Laura Poitras/AP


More than 150 civil society organisations from around the globe are asking
President Barack Obama to end the prosecution of Edward Snowden (Activists stage
second national day of protest against NSA's domestic spying, 4 August).

Human rights, digital rights and media freedom campaigners from the UK to
Uruguay and from the US to Uganda have joined together to call on the US
administration to acknowledge Snowden as a whistleblower. All of us ask that he is
protected and not persecuted.

Snowden's disclosures have triggered a much-needed public debate about mass
surveillance online everywhere. Thanks to him, we have learned the extent to
which our online lives are systematically monitored by governments, without
transparency, accountability or safeguards from abuse.

Rather than address this gross abuse, the US government has chosen to shoot the
messenger. It has revoked his passport and obstructed his search for asylum.
European governments have been quick to help.

The knock-on effect will be to encourage others to follow by example. States that
have even less regard for their citizens will justify attacks on those who put
themselves at significant risk to expose wrongdoing and corruption or raise matters
of serious public concern.

We urge President Obama to protect Snowden and other whistleblowers like him.
We ask that the president initiate a full, public investigation into the legality of the
National Security Agency's actions. Perhaps, then, David Cameron might consider
doing the same over allegations concerning GCHQ.

Dr Agnes Callamard

Executive director, Article 19, on behalf of more than 150 global organisations

http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...-snowden-alone