MEPs vote in favour of giving Snowden asylum in EU

[Political Junky]

Sounds good to me.

Edward Snowden: MEP vote urges EU to grant safe asylum (Wired UK)

The European Parliament has called on EUmember states to drop all criminal charges against Edward Snowden and protect him against extradition to the United States.

MEPs voted 285 votes to 281 in favour of a resolution that the NSA whistleblower should be allowed to seek safe asylum in the EU.
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[Blackrook]

Snowden is safe only in Russia, and that is where he will remain for the rest of his life.

 

[waltky]

Snowden sabotagin' any efforts to bring him home...

EU to member states: Drop charges, protect 'human rights defender' Snowden from U.S.
Oct. 29, 2015 - "This is not a blow against the U.S. government, but an open hand extended by friends. It is a chance to move forward," Snowden tweeted Thursday.

American whistleblower Edward Snowden might soon set up permanent residence in any one of nearly 30 European countries after their governing body passed a resolution Thursday recommending tht the former defense contractor be given asylum. The European Union voted 285-281 in support of the measure, which asks EU member nations to either drop charges or cease from prosecuting the 32-year-old American with crimes related to his massive leak of classified information two years ago. The EU asked member states to protect the person it called a "whistle-blower and international human rights defender."

The European Union on Thursday narrowly voted to recommend that its 28 member nations drop criminal charges against Edward Snowden and protect him from U.S. extradition. The former defense contractor who leaked sensitive data on the NSA's phone surveillance program in 2013 called the vote a "game-changer."​

After the union's vote, Snowden applauded the support. "Hearing reports EU just voted 285-281, overcoming huge pressure, to cancel all charges against me and prevent extradition. Game-changer," Snowden tweeted Thursday. "This is not a blow against the U.S. government, but an open hand extended by friends. It is a chance to move forward," a subsequent tweet said. Snowden faces prosecution in the United States for leaking data on the National Security Agency's widespread phone surveillance program. Thursday's vote doesn't allow the EU to dictate law, but it formally recommends that its 28 member states refrain from prosecuting him and shield him from U.S. extradition. Thursday's vote means Snowden could potentially live in any of the EU member states that adopt the resolution. He has been reluctant to return to the United States, though, where he would be arrested and prosecuted.

Now living in Moscow, Snowden said earlier this month he would be willing to serve some prison time upon returning to the United States. "We welcome today's decision of the European Parliament recognizing Edward Snowden as a human rights defender and calling upon member states to grant him protection from prosecution," Wolfgang Kaleck, a Snowden attorney, told the Daily Dot in an email. "It is an overdue step and we urge the member States to act now to implement the resolution." The Obama administration responded to Thursday's vote by saying nothing has changed on its end. "Our position has not changed," National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said in a statement. "Mr. Snowden is accused of leaking classified information and faces felony charges here in the United States. As such, he should be returned to the U.S. as soon as possible, where he will be accorded full due process."

EU to member states: Drop charges, protect 'human rights defender' Snowden from U.S.

See also:

Edward Snowden: U.S. shares South Korea information with spy network
Oct. 30, 2015 - Classified South Korea military information is shared with a wider network in a spying alliance that includes the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Edward Snowden said the United States spies on ally South Korea as part of its massive surveillance network called "Five Eyes." Speaking from Moscow via video, Snowden made the remarks after a screening of the 2014 documentary Citizen Four, which is to be released in Korea on Nov. 19. Snowden said South Korea is one of 38 countries under National Security Agency surveillance, a list that includes close U.S. partners France and Germany, South Korean newspaper Kyunghyang Sinmun reported.

The former NSA contractor told reporters that Seoul and Washington already share a significant amount of classified military information to track North Korea movements, but added that he didn't see anything wrong with the sharing of information. The problem, Snowden said Friday, is that the information becomes shared more widely than presumed. The United States' spying alliance with Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, dubbed "Five Eyes," allows the U.S. government to take classified South Korea information and share it with a wider network.

In March, Snowden shared files with a New Zealand newspaper showing that the country's intelligence agency was spying on more than 20 Asia-Pacific nations on behalf of the United States. Snowden told South Korean reporters on Friday the system of surveillance is not effective in preventing or investigating terrorism, leaving governments and individuals vulnerable to exposure, South Korean outlet Newsis reported. Snowden said he has been allowed to stay in Russia indefinitely, but added the situation can flip anytime, and that he could be used as a bargaining chip between governments. On Thursday, the European Union voted to recommend the dropping of criminal charges against Snowden, and to protect him from U.S. extradition – meaning he could soon be allowed permanent residence in one of the EU nations.

Edward Snowden: U.S. shares South Korea information with spy network