Updated: France, Italy reject Snowden asylum request

[ProSense]

Last edited Thu Jul 4, 2013, 01:04 PM - Edit history (1)

Italy rejects Snowden asylum request

(Reuters) - Italy cannot support an asylum request from fugitive former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden, Foreign Minister Emma Bonino said on Thursday.

Speaking in parliament, she said that any asylum request would have to be presented in person at the border or in Italian territory which Snowden, currently believed to be in a Russian airport transit lounge, had not done.

"As a result there do not exist the legal conditions to accept such a request which in the government's view would not be acceptable on a political level either," she said.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/04/us-italy-snowden-idUSBRE9630IG20130704

Updated to add:

France rejects NSA leaker Snowden's asylum request

France has rejected an asylum request from National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden, the interior ministry says. Snowden has requested asylum in 21 nations after leaking intelligence on US surveillance programmes.

France said on Thursday it was rejecting a request for asylum from fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden.

"Like many countries, France received a request for asylum from Mr. Edward Snowden through its embassy in Moscow. Given the legal analysis and the situation of the interested party, France will not agree," the interior ministry said in a statement.

http://www.france24.com/en/20130704-france-rejects-asylum-request-nsa-leaker-snowden-usa

Why Won’t Anyone Take Edward Snowden?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023162351

[MineralMan]

1. It appears that most countries have asylum rules that say,

"First, come here, and then we'll talk about your request."

In some ways, that makes sense. It will, however, create some serious obstacles for Snowden, who appears to be stuck in a transit terminal in Moscow.

Worse, since all nations have some sort of intelligence system they would prefer remained secret to some extent or another, they might not think well of a person applying for asylum for disclosing such things.

There may be countries that wouldn't care, and that would grant asylum to Snowden, but they may not be countries where he would be comfortable, and most of those are far less concerned with liberty and freedom that he would prefer. I'm sure North Korea would accept him for asylum, if he could get there. I doubt he's interested in that possibility, though.

I'm not entirely certain that Mr. Snowden gave full consideration to what he did and what the aftermath might be. He may also have received bad advice from people who had themselves in mind, rather than Snowden, when they offered the advice.

[ProSense]

2. Yes, but

"It appears that most countries have asylum rules that say, 'First, come here, and then we'll talk about your request.'"

... the statement goes beyond that:

"As a result there do not exist the legal conditions to accept such a request which in the government's view would not be acceptable on a political level either," she said.

Snowden is a headache no one wants.

[MineralMan]

4. Yes. Nobody wants Snowden.

He is a liability to any country which accepts his plea for asylum. And, as I said, there are few countries without intelligence agencies and laws punishing those who reveal state secrets. Snowden's in a tight spot. A tight spot, boys.

[HipChick]

3. I don't think he thought this part out...once he's out from his $300 night hotel room

I think the Russians will put him on the first thing smoking back to the US

[MineralMan]

5. I agree. They'll be happy to "repatriate" him,

at the first opportunity. They might even send someone along to sit next to him and make sure he doesn't get lost on the way. They'd be helpful like that.

[HipChick]

6. I'm am sure they will make it a direct flight, with no connections..

hell...they might even send a private plane and avoid going commercial

[MineralMan]

9. Nah. He'll be on a regularly-scheduled Aeroflot flight.

They might even give him a first-class seat, where the borscht for lunch is served in a porcelain bowl.

Farewell, Mr. Snowden, and good riddance.

[flamingdem]

7. I wonder who is paying the bill if the Russians are charging

If Wikileaks is paying they must be tiring of the expense.

Plus, Sarah Hastings, Assange's sometimes lover is stuck there ... in the same tiny room? as Snowden.

Purgatory!

[HipChick]

8. Yuk..sometimes lover?

[flamingdem]

10. 'Julian Assange's ex' on the run with Edward Snowden - Heraldsun (! lol)

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/world/julian-assanges-ex-on-the-run-with-edward-snowden/story-fni0xs61-1226671972602

THE young woman accompanying whistleblower Edward Snowden on his global journey to avoid US capture is the ex-lover of Julian Assange, a UK paper has claimed.

According to sources quoted in the Daily Mail, Sarah Harrison and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange were involved in a relationship with sources describing Ms Harrison as Assange’s “right-hand man”.

--.

Ms Harrison, a British national, flew out to Hong Kong on behalf of Wikileaks to help Snowden after he revealed details of Prism, a massive US surveillance programme run by the National Security Agency (NSA) that pries into Facebook accounts, emails and phone calls.

Her parents told the Daily Mail they had not heard from their daughter.

"We haven’t heard a thing from Sarah and I’m worried - though not nearly as worried as my wife," said Ian Harrison, 74.

[HipChick]

12. Maybe she's finding other activities to keep Snowden busy with..

It's gotta be hellva boring now, that you are not getting as much attention

[treestar]

11. They all use that procedural reason

Or most of them, anyway. Looks rather legalistic, but then again, there is no point in granting asylum to someone who can't get to the place of asylum.

[flamingdem]

13. Iceland pirate party is trying to get around that by granting Snowden citizenship

But that would be unprecedented and the moderates will no doubt block it.

It looks like this might be his only solution. Citizenship granted by another country. Most require a period of several years so it looks doubtful.

[ProSense]

14. Interesting. n/t

[treestar]

15. And residence there

as some proof of loyalty to the new country. Since Snowden had little to his country of origin, it would be silly of any other country to grant him citizenship when he's never been there. But still not impossible, I guess. I wonder why they are thinking of granting him citizenship rather than just asylum.

[JimDandy]

16. Citizenship means a passport.

[treestar]

17. Yeah, though asylees usually get travel documents

a real version of the fake Ecuardorian one.

[JimDandy]

18. Citizenship/passport gets around

Last edited Thu Jul 4, 2013, 07:19 PM - Edit history (1)

any asylum requirements that he must be in-country/embassy, and gets around the possibility that any previously issued Travel Docs get yanked on a whim, like what happened with Ecuador, as you pointed out.