U.S. informer Edward Snowden has requested political asylum in Ecuador. Øystein Jakobsen, spokesperson for the Norwegian Pirate Party, stated yesterday that Snowden would fly to Iceland through Norway. Snowden had earlier expressed his wish to come to Iceland.
Snowden flew from Hong Kong to Moscow yesterday where he was met by employees of the Ecuadorian Embassy in Moscow. From Russia he will fly to Ecuador through Cuba; he is scheduled to arrive in Havana today, visir.is reports.
Wikileaks have assisted Snowden with applying for political asylum in Ecuador. “It has been guaranteed that his application for political asylum will be accepted and processed with goodwill,” stated Wikileaks spokesperson Kristinn Hrafnsson.
“Wikileaks has obvious connections with Ecuador as Julian Assange is staying at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. I just arrived from Ecuador myself,” Kristinn added.
Snowden escaped to Hong Kong after U.S. authorities issued a warrant for his arrest for leaking information from the NSA and CIA on the agencies’ extensive surveillance of the online and telephone communication of a number of people.
After Snowden expressed his wish to apply for political asylum in Iceland, the Icelandic Pirate Party and Wikileaks commented on his case, Kristinn contacting Icelandic authorities on his behalf.
However, Kristinn was told that Snowden could not apply for asylum in Iceland unless coming to the country first and that his application would have to be treated the same way as those from all other applicants for political asylum.
Related:
18.06.2013 | Icelandic Ministers Said to Ignore Snowden’s Plea
11.06.2013 | Wikileaks Prepared to Help Snowden Get to Iceland
ESA
