At 30 years of age, Edward Snowden has a lot of grit and determination. After revealing top secret US electronic surveillance programs' details, he is on his own at the transit area of Sheremetyevo airport in Russia. He had been living at the airport since 23rd June, after he flew from Hong Kong to Russia.
Snowden's tryst with fate began in June 2013, when he revealed information about mass surveillance programs employed by the US and British governments. One of his first revelations were to The Gaurdian, when he was working as a contractor to the NSA. Expose of programs including PRISM and Tempora Internet surveillance programs and interception of US and European telephone metadata is considered as one of the worst security breaches in NSA history.
Charged with espionage and theft of government property, Snowden has been on the run since 14th June 2013. He was quoted in the media as saying that it was his responsibility to let people know how they are being used. This has created a storm of controversy across the globe, with Snowden seeking asylum in countries other than the US. Sitting at the Sheremetyevo airport, he has applied for and sought asylum in various countries including Equador, Russia, Germany, India, Finland, Italy, France, Brazil, Poland, Austria and others. Of these, only Equador and Russia had favorable responses for him. Additionally, Bolivia, Venezuela and Nicaragua are ready to protect him from US prosecution if he asks.
Recently, the US made its displeasure know to China for not extracting Snowden when he was in Hong Kong. Today, Snowden is meeting up with human rights groups at the airport to discuss his options, after revealing that the US has been actively preventing countries from giving him asylum. Under international law, a whistle blower such as Snowden can seek asylum as the leaked information can be put to public use.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch will meet the daredevil at Sheremetyevo airport in Terminal F.
Photo Courtesy: Dailymail, immasera.com
(AW: Sruthi)
