ASYLUM ?

Some news sources around the net today make it sound as though Edward Snowden had, after a week or so holed up in a no-man's-land inside a Moscow airport, applied only to to Russia for asylum. Others, though, more fully stated, citing their source, that he had put forward requests for asylum to 15 countries, one of which was Russia. It's interesting how easily a news source can bend/spin a news story without actually telling an untruth isn't it? By indicating Snowden had made a single request, it opened up lots of sneering commentary, none of it complimentary to the whistle-blower, and was probably exactly what corporate media leaders had demanded from their minions.

A common sense conclusion, I think, would be that a short-term Russian agreement to asylum for Snowden would be essential to allow him access to flights or other transport to a second destination where asylum might eventually be on offer.

UPDATE: 2 July 2013

According to WikiLeaks, Snowden has requested asylum from Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Cuba, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, India, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Venezuela. (Common Dreams)


BBC has even more up to date information:
A growing number of countries have rejected the asylum requests of fugitive intelligence leaker Edward Snowden, as he attempts to avoid extradition to the US.

Eight European states including Spain and Germany said asylum applicants had to be on their soil.India and Brazil have also said no................

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Mr Snowden had withdrawn the application to Russia because Moscow had said he should give up "anti-American activity". "After learning of Russia's position yesterday, voiced by President Putin... he abandoned his intention [of staying] and his request to be able to stay in Russia," said Mr Peskov.


Things are not looking good for Mr Snowden.