Edward Snowden sent Icelandic MPs a letter prior to the parliamentary vote on granting him Icelandic citizenship, visir.is reports.
Alþingi, the Icelandic parliament. Photo: Páll Kjartansson/Iceland Review.
WikiLeaks spokesperson Kristinn Hrafnsson posted the letter on his Facebook page last night.
An application for asylum in Snowden’s name was received at the Icelandic Embassy in Moscow earlier this week.
On Thursday, five MPs proposed a bill to parliament to grant Snowden citizenship. The bill was rejected 33:24 with five abstentions.
Before the vote, Snowden sent the letter thanking the MPs for considering his application. “It strengthens me to find support among Icelanders,” he wrote, adding that he appreciated the “courage and determination” shown by Iceland.
Venezuela and Nicaragua have since offered Snowden asylum, as reported by guardian.co.uk this morning.
Snowden is believed to still be at a Moscow airport.
Related:
04.07.2013 | Ban Ki-moon in Iceland: Snowden ‘Misused’ Digital Communication
04.07.2013 | Former Minister: Iceland Should Offer Snowden Residence
02.07.2013 | Snowden Applies for Asylum in Iceland
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