Developing news this Sunday morning as NSA leaker Edward Snowden left Hong Kong for parts unknown.
Though @RT_com is reporting #snowden already in #Moscow, they have 2 news vans outside of the airport pic.twitter.com/A3UP9ppXIe
— Ben C. Solomon (@bcsolomon) June 23, 2013
WikiLeaks says its "diplomats & advisors" is escorting #Snowden. Says he's left Hong Kong "for the purposes of asylum."
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) June 23, 2013
RT @KiritRadia_ABC: #Snowden is booked on an Aeroflot flight to Cuba on Monday, accompanied by Wikileaks aide Sarah Harrison
— K (@KMBReferee) June 23, 2013
That’s right: He is being accompanied by WikiLeaks staff.
. @wikileaks says NSA leaker Edward Snowden left Hong Kong legally; now bound for a 'democratic nation' http://t.co/OxoCyI41Zw
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 23, 2013
More from WikiLeaks’ Twitter account:
FLASH: WikiLeaks has assisted Mr. Snowden's political asylum in a democratic country, travel papers ans safe exit from Hong Kong. More soon.
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) June 23, 2013
FLASH: Mr. Snowden is currently over Russian airspace accompanied by WikiLeaks legal advisors.
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) June 23, 2013
STATEMENT: WikiLeaks statement on Edward Snowden exit from Hong Kong http://t.co/kYJCOQNEhh #snowden #WikiLeaks
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) June 23, 2013
Edward Snowden will touchdown in Moscow in under one hour. http://t.co/kYJCOQNEhh http://t.co/svGMShQLsn
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) June 23, 2013
WikiLeaks’ full statement, issued Sunday morning:
Sunday June 23, 13:00
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mr Edward Snowden, the American whistleblower who exposed evidence of a global surveillance regime conducted by US and UK intelligence agencies, has left Hong Kong legally. He is bound for a democratic nation via a safe route for the purposes of asylum, and is being escorted by diplomats and legal advisors from WikiLeaks.
Mr Snowden requested that WikiLeaks use its legal expertise and experience to secure his safety. Once Mr Snowden arrives at his final destination his request will be formally processed.
Former Spanish Judge Mr Baltasar Garzon, legal director of Wikileaks and lawyer for Julian Assange has made the following statement:
“The WikiLeaks legal team and I are interested in preserving Mr Snowden’s rights and protecting him as a person. What is being done to Mr Snowden and to Mr Julian Assange – for making or facilitating disclosures in the public interest – is an assault against the people”.
His final destination has not been confirmed, but there are reports of an upcoming stop in Cuba with Venezuela as the final destination.
RT @nycjim: > @reuters reporting #Snowden is booked on Monday flight from Moscow to Havana; ultimate destination Venezuela.
— Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) June 23, 2013
Americans on Twitter are questioning this latest move and rightly so.
Folks, it's possible to believe both that the NSA is out of control AND that Edward Snowden has made some puzzling moves.
— Blake Hounshell (@blakehounshell) June 23, 2013
@USshrugged there is no inconsistency between wanting to hold NSA accountable and thinking Snowden is a traitor for what he does now.
— AG (@AG_Conservative) June 23, 2013
How can people not comprehend that just because NSA was doing something wrong does not justify everything Snowden has done?
— AG (@AG_Conservative) June 23, 2013
This effin guy RT @nytimesworld: N.S.A. Leaker Leaves Hong Kong on Flight to Moscow http://t.co/Cw3ZZ144hr
— Blake Hounshell (@blakehounshell) June 23, 2013
https://twitter.com/jeffemanuel/status/348771633235914752
Also, if you think that Russia or Cuba will let Snowden spend time there w/o getting intel from him, you don't understand how they work.
— AG (@AG_Conservative) June 23, 2013
You can now guarantee Russia will get every single thing on those 3 laptops Snowden has on him.
— AG (@AG_Conservative) June 23, 2013
Nothing says civil liberties/freedom of the press like China–>Moscow–>Havana–>Venezuela
— Ben White (@morningmoneyben) June 23, 2013
China, Russia, Cuba, Venezuela. Wow. #snowden #opengovernmenttour2013
— Allahpundit (@allahpundit) June 23, 2013
The state-mandated Snowden photo op with Maduro will be magical #opengovernment
— Allahpundit (@allahpundit) June 23, 2013
Hey, some tour spots seem to be missing!
Interfax says #Snowden's ultimate destination is Venezuela with a stopover in Havana. Was a layover in Iran impossible? #roguestatetour
— John Schindler (@20committee) June 23, 2013
Snowden should’ve done a brief layover in North Korea, just for the sake of completeness
— Allahpundit (@allahpundit) June 23, 2013
Zing!
Some icon of liberty: Snowden leaves Hong Kong for Moscow with Cuba as possible destination http://t.co/sAjEaPdwiN
— American Thinker (@AmericanThinker) June 23, 2013
Not helping his 'hero' case MT @nycjim: > @reuters reporting #Snowden booked on Mon flight from Moscow to Havana; destination Venezuela.
— Glenn Thrush (@GlennThrush) June 23, 2013
Wait, Snowden's going where?!? LOLOLOL. But American hero or something…
— LMR (@LilMissRightie) June 23, 2013
Snowden is stopping by Russia with American national security secrets in a few hours. Real American hero. #HeadDesk
— AG (@AG_Conservative) June 23, 2013
And a key point:
https://twitter.com/kesgardner/status/348744435720392704
Snowden is gonna be really pissed when he gets to Russia and finds out they might spy on people too.
— Philip Klein (@philipaklein) June 23, 2013
China, Cuba, Venezuela, Russia: countries you seek asylum from not in. #snowden #bizarroworld
— Garrett Quinn (@GarrettQuinn) June 23, 2013
Snowden going to Cuba, a country that definitely doesn't spy on its citizens at all
— Alex Pappas (@AlexPappas) June 23, 2013
Bingo.
First stop, Moscow:
Edward Snowden will touchdown in Moscow in under twenty minutes http://t.co/kYJCOQNEhh … http://t.co/svGMShQLsn #snowden
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) June 23, 2013
Twitchy will continue to update this developing story.
Update:
RT @EllenBarryNYT: Snowden has landed in Moscow.
— Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) June 23, 2013
Ok, Snowden has touched down in the land of the free …. um, Russia.
— TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) June 23, 2013
Update:
Snowden welcome party pic.twitter.com/vOg8tPOuG0
— Miriam Elder (@MiriamElder) June 23, 2013
Vans belonging to Russian presidential administration waiting by Aeroflot jets pic.twitter.com/f2THVsAytq
— Miriam Elder (@MiriamElder) June 23, 2013
Update: Ecuador received asylum request:
The Government of Ecuador has received an asylum request from Edward J. #Snowden
— Ricardo Patiño Aroca (@RicardoPatinoEC) June 23, 2013
Ecudor's foreign minister –> RT @RicardoPatinoEC: The Government of Ecuador has received an asylum request from Edward J. #Snowden
— Sarah Boxer (@Sarah_Boxer) June 23, 2013
Ecuador Foreign Minister, who announced Snowden asylum request, met with Assange last week in London. http://t.co/mvAbKbNPOD
— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) June 23, 2013
Related:
‘This is world we live in’: Snowden heads to Ecuador; Asylum request confirmed via Twitter
Bluster fail! Schumer: Putin knew of Snowden’s flight; What about know-nothing Obama?
Snort! Is there a bright side if Snowden flees to Cuba or Venezuela?
Bam! Twitter users destroy Snowden’s latest move, ‘hero’ status with simple question
‘Grand tour of U.S. adversaries’: NSA leaker Snowden leaves Hong Kong by way of Moscow
