Snowden
asylum still under review, stays in airport for now
NSA
whistleblower Edward Snowden will have to stay at a Moscow airport
for a little longer as his asylum plea is still being reviewed by
Russian immigration authorities, according to his lawyer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx9AYPBzhZU
RT,
24
July, 2013
Anatoly
Kucherena said that the NSA-leaker plans to settle down in Russia.
But for now, Snowden still cannot leave Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport.
As
they met today, the lawyer handed Snowden the certificate proving
that Russia’s Federal Migration Service is now reviewing his
political asylum request.
Kucherena,
who arrived at the airport at about 4pm Moscow time (12:00 GMT), had
a large paper bag with him. Speculation immediately arose that he was
carrying a document that would allow Snowden out of the transit zone.
“The
certificate is not a document, political asylum request maybe
reviewed within three months,” the lawyer dispelled the rumor.
Kucherena
did not give any specific date when documents should be issued. Asked
about reasons for that, he explained that the delay in issuing all
necessary documents to Snowden is due to the uniqueness of the
situation.
#snowden advisor arrives... With paperwork?? pic.twitter.com/EtRqFud1HX
25 РЕТВИТОВ 4 ИЗБРАННЫХ
When
exclusively talking to RT, Kucherena revealed that he brought him
books – by Anton Chekhov, Fyodor Dostoevsky and Nikolay Karamzin -
and some shirts.
“He
has been wearing the same clothes for about a month, so I brought
some clothes for him," Kucherena said.
As
he arrived at the airport, the lawyer went straight to meet the
whistleblower in the transit zone without taking time to speak to the
journalists, saying he would do so only after consulting with his
client.
Talking
to RT, Kucherena stressed that Snowden’s safety is now “top
priority”.
He
said Snowden is thankful for words of support and goods he is getting
from Russian people. The whistleblower asked to says special thanks
to girls who have been worrying about his fate.
“When
I told him that girls call him, he laughed and asked to give them his
personal thanks for caring about him,” Kucherena said.
Snowden
will meet the press as soon as the situation clears up, he added.
The
lawyer said Snowden’s plans for the future include finding a job,
“travel if possible and settling his life somehow.”
“He’s
planning to arrange his life here. He plans to get a job. And I think
that all his further decisions will be made considering the situation
he found himself in,” he told RT.
Edward
Snowden, who has been living in the transit zone of Sheremetyevo
Airport since the day he arrived from Hong Kong on June 23, applied
for temporary asylum in Russia last week.
His
request followed weeks of searching for a way to leave the country,
which he had intended to pass through only briefly on his way to
another destination. However, he became stranded because the US
revoked his passport.
It
took Russian immigration authorities a week for an initial assessment
of the asylum request. Apparently they decided to proceed with the
request and issued Snowden provisional documents to that effect.
Earlier,
Kucherena said Snowden may decide to become a permanent resident in
Russia rather than stay there seeking an opportunity to get asylum
elsewhere. It can take up to three months to either grant or reject
the asylum request. If granted, temporary asylum would allow Snowden
to remain in Russia for one year and be renewed annually. If the
request is rejected by the Migration Service, Snowden may appeal the
decision in court.
Snowden
is wanted in the US over leaking classified documents detailing the
massive surveillance programs of the National Security Agency. He is
facing espionage charges if handed over to US custody. The US has
been applying diplomatic pressure to countries which voiced their
intention to harbor the fugitive.
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