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In reply to the discussion: Snowden meeting in Moscow with Human Rights Groups now (Live) [View all]Catherina
(35,568 posts)137. STATEMENT by Edward Snowden to human rights groups at Moscow
Last edited Fri Jul 12, 2013, 12:24 PM - Edit history (2)
WACA ?@akaWACA 1m
Statement by Edward Snowden to human rights groups at Moscows Sheremetyevo airport http://fb.me/SyVOQmAQ
Statement by Edward Snowden to human rights groups at Moscows Sheremetyevo airport http://fb.me/SyVOQmAQ
Statement by Edward Snowden to human rights groups at Moscows Sheremetyevo airport
Friday July 12, 15:00 UTC
Edward Joseph Snowden delivered a statement to human rights organizations and individuals at Sheremetyevo airport at 5pm Moscow time today, Friday 12th July. The meeting lasted 45 minutes. The human rights organizations included Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch and were given the opportunity afterwards to ask Mr Snowden questions. The Human Rights Watch representative used this opportunity to tell Mr Snowden that on her way to the airport she had received a call from the US Ambassador to Russia, who asked her to relay to Mr Snowden that the US Government does not categorise Mr Snowden as a whistleblower and that he has broken United States law. This further proves the United States Governments persecution of Mr Snowden and therefore that his right to seek and accept asylum should be upheld. Seated to the left of Mr. Snowden was Sarah Harrison, a legal advisor in this matter from WikiLeaks and to Mr. Snowdens right, a translator.
Transcript of Edward Joseph Snowden statement, given at 5pm Moscow time on Friday 12th July 2013. (Transcript corrected to delivery)
For further information, see:
http://wikileaks.org/Statement-from-Edward-Snowden-in.html
http://wikileaks.org/Statement-by-Julian-Assange-after,249.html
Friday July 12, 15:00 UTC
Edward Joseph Snowden delivered a statement to human rights organizations and individuals at Sheremetyevo airport at 5pm Moscow time today, Friday 12th July. The meeting lasted 45 minutes. The human rights organizations included Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch and were given the opportunity afterwards to ask Mr Snowden questions. The Human Rights Watch representative used this opportunity to tell Mr Snowden that on her way to the airport she had received a call from the US Ambassador to Russia, who asked her to relay to Mr Snowden that the US Government does not categorise Mr Snowden as a whistleblower and that he has broken United States law. This further proves the United States Governments persecution of Mr Snowden and therefore that his right to seek and accept asylum should be upheld. Seated to the left of Mr. Snowden was Sarah Harrison, a legal advisor in this matter from WikiLeaks and to Mr. Snowdens right, a translator.
Transcript of Edward Joseph Snowden statement, given at 5pm Moscow time on Friday 12th July 2013. (Transcript corrected to delivery)
Hello. My name is Ed Snowden. A little over one month ago, I had family, a home in paradise, and I lived in great comfort. I also had the capability without any warrant to search for, seize, and read your communications. Anyones communications at any time. That is the power to change peoples fates.
It is also a serious violation of the law. The 4th and 5th Amendments to the Constitution of my country, Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and numerous statutes and treaties forbid such systems of massive, pervasive surveillance. While the US Constitution marks these programs as illegal, my government argues that secret court rulings, which the world is not permitted to see, somehow legitimize an illegal affair. These rulings simply corrupt the most basic notion of justice that it must be seen to be done. The immoral cannot be made moral through the use of secret law.
I believe in the principle declared at Nuremberg in 1945: "Individuals have international duties which transcend the national obligations of obedience. Therefore individual citizens have the duty to violate domestic laws to prevent crimes against peace and humanity from occurring."
Accordingly, I did what I believed right and began a campaign to correct this wrongdoing. I did not seek to enrich myself. I did not seek to sell US secrets. I did not partner with any foreign government to guarantee my safety. Instead, I took what I knew to the public, so what affects all of us can be discussed by all of us in the light of day, and I asked the world for justice.
That moral decision to tell the public about spying that affects all of us has been costly, but it was the right thing to do and I have no regrets.
Since that time, the government and intelligence services of the United States of America have attempted to make an example of me, a warning to all others who might speak out as I have. I have been made stateless and hounded for my act of political expression. The United States Government has placed me on no-fly lists. It demanded Hong Kong return me outside of the framework of its laws, in direct violation of the principle of non-refoulement the Law of Nations. It has threatened with sanctions countries who would stand up for my human rights and the UN asylum system. It has even taken the unprecedented step of ordering military allies to ground a Latin American presidents plane in search for a political refugee. These dangerous escalations represent a threat not just to the dignity of Latin America, but to the basic rights shared by every person, every nation, to live free from persecution, and to seek and enjoy asylum.
Yet even in the face of this historically disproportionate aggression, countries around the world have offered support and asylum. These nations, including Russia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Ecuador have my gratitude and respect for being the first to stand against human rights violations carried out by the powerful rather than the powerless. By refusing to compromise their principles in the face of intimidation, they have earned the respect of the world. It is my intention to travel to each of these countries to extend my personal thanks to their people and leaders.
I announce today my formal acceptance of all offers of support or asylum I have been extended and all others that may be offered in the future. With, for example, the grant of asylum provided by Venezuelas President Maduro, my asylee status is now formal, and no state has a basis by which to limit or interfere with my right to enjoy that asylum. As we have seen, however, some governments in Western European and North American states have demonstrated a willingness to act outside the law, and this behavior persists today. This unlawful threat makes it impossible for me to travel to Latin America and enjoy the asylum granted there in accordance with our shared rights.
This willingness by powerful states to act extra-legally represents a threat to all of us, and must not be allowed to succeed. Accordingly, I ask for your assistance in requesting guarantees of safe passage from the relevant nations in securing my travel to Latin America, as well as requesting asylum in Russia until such time as these states accede to law and my legal travel is permitted. I will be submitting my request to Russia today, and hope it will be accepted favorably.
If you have any questions, I will answer what I can.
Thank you.
For further information, see:
http://wikileaks.org/Statement-from-Edward-Snowden-in.html
http://wikileaks.org/Statement-by-Julian-Assange-after,249.html
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There are rumors among Sheremetyevo staff that Snowden might have a flight today
Catherina
Jul 2013
#4
Official vehicle of Department of Presidential Affairs just passed by the terminal n/t
Catherina
Jul 2013
#9
Video not allowed in meeting btw #Snowden and around 8 Russian human rights figures. It begins.
Coyotl
Jul 2013
#11
CIA contracted with the Mafia in 1960 to do that to Castro. Wet work continues to present day.
Octafish
Jul 2013
#203
Meeting with "human rights" groups in a Moscow airport, rather than defense attorneys
AllINeedIsCoffee
Jul 2013
#20
I'd also like an explanation for the quote marks. Perhaps that poster does not believe
HardTimes99
Jul 2013
#112
Oh yeah, I'm with you 100%. The point is that by putting quote marks around the phrase, the
HardTimes99
Jul 2013
#134
JMO, but I think human rights in Moscow should be put in quotes, because there isn't any such thing.
Zen Democrat
Jul 2013
#167
I side with the White House on this issue 100% in respecting the work of human rights groups
AllINeedIsCoffee
Jul 2013
#187
Because as Jay Carney said this afternoon, human rights groups do a lot of good work
AllINeedIsCoffee
Jul 2013
#185
will submit an asylum claim to Russia, plans to go to Latin America eventually
Catherina
Jul 2013
#23
Will he comply with Putin's condition that he not publicly disclose further information?
FarCenter
Jul 2013
#26
It sounds like the offer is still there, and it sounds like Snowden would take it only
morningfog
Jul 2013
#40
Not at all. Russia set conditions. He doesn't want to be bound by those conditions,
morningfog
Jul 2013
#32
They could move him to Krasnoyarsk -- It's probably quite nice this time of year
FarCenter
Jul 2013
#55
It sounds like he needs the Russian asylum to protect his travel to Venezuela.
morningfog
Jul 2013
#38
That was posted while I was composing. Of course I'm playing catch up. We all are.
randome
Jul 2013
#146
So he actually flew to Russia, despite all the comments that he was probably in Hong Kong or ?????
FarCenter
Jul 2013
#24
says govts in W. Europe, N.America are acting outside the law, preventing me from traveling.
Catherina
Jul 2013
#25
HR lawyer: "UN mechanisms should ensure Snowden's rights. That is not the role of HR NGOs"
Catherina
Jul 2013
#37
Translation: "It's our U.N. goddamnit. We paid for it!" (Reminds me of the
HardTimes99
Jul 2013
#119
Denying that money buys influence is like denying that gravity pulls things to the earth.
FarCenter
Jul 2013
#202
#Snowden has received asylum offers from Venezuela, Russia, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Ecuador, per Huma
Coyotl
Jul 2013
#31
Great stuff. So we know he is alive, still in Moscow and organizing his options.
morningfog
Jul 2013
#34
Yes. Basically would like to stay in Russia until he can fly to Latin America safely n/t
Catherina
Jul 2013
#45
No actions I take or plan are meant to harm the US so Putin's condition poses no obstacle
Catherina
Jul 2013
#50
says he is recognized as asylum seeker by UNHCR but US doesn't acknowledge (Morales plane)
Catherina
Jul 2013
#59
"No actions I take or plan are meant to harm the US...I want the US to succeed."
Catherina
Jul 2013
#60
#Snowden sees logic: His work is not meant to damage US, so Putin's condition is no obstacle.n/t
Catherina
Jul 2013
#69
Has he agreed to stop leaking, or is he making the case that leaking is not damaging to America?
Catherina
Jul 2013
#87
What Snowden thinks is damaging is irrelevant -- it is what Putin thinks that counts.
FarCenter
Jul 2013
#94
So, you are saying that every person who is given a security clearance has the right to determine
karynnj
Jul 2013
#155
Yes, I can see that your focus is whether or not he signed a nondisclosure agreement.
noamnety
Jul 2013
#196
As an aside: Snowden T-shirts in the major clothing stores of Berlin, Germany
Catherina
Jul 2013
#66
Says he is recognized as an asylum seeker by UNHCR but US doesn't acknowledge it n/t
Catherina
Jul 2013
#67
Human rights activists are approaching the journalists and are commenting on the meeting now n/t
Catherina
Jul 2013
#71
Peskov: Kremlin has no confirmation of #Snowden appeal for asylum, but conditions are the ones Putin
Catherina
Jul 2013
#72
Duma deputy: Snowden said he will easily fulfill the conditions of the Russian Federation to stay
Catherina
Jul 2013
#75
wants human rights organizations to petition US, EU not to interfere with his asylum process
Catherina
Jul 2013
#81
If #Snowden oficially requests political #asylum in Russia, his request will be processed - #Kremlin
Catherina
Jul 2013
#82
His psychological posture has been consistent -- he thinks that he is very important
FarCenter
Jul 2013
#118
'Allegedly'. And Spain says their ambassador in Austria was responsible for the panic attack.
randome
Jul 2013
#159
Wikileaks will release Snowden's statement to human rights groups early this evening
Catherina
Jul 2013
#85
If people wish for #Snowden to not ask #Russia for help, they should ensure he may freely travel
Catherina
Jul 2013
#88
has written request for political asylum, Russian law allows its being granted - lawyer Kucherena
Catherina
Jul 2013
#90
Snowden's asylum plea irrelevant if he declines #Russia's terms - Human Rights Council head n/t
Catherina
Jul 2013
#99
presidential council: will provide legal support to Snowden in going thru political asylum process
Catherina
Jul 2013
#100
Russian Federal Migration Service: We not yet received an application for political asylum
Catherina
Jul 2013
#104
must be given refugee status, preferably by UN,or Red Cross,not Russia - Russian commissioner for HR
Catherina
Jul 2013
#102
Search of Morales plane in Vienna showed those who are looking for him may resort 2 extreme measures
Catherina
Jul 2013
#107
Russia's oldest human rights activist: grant asylum, don't fear deterioration of relations with US
Catherina
Jul 2013
#111
State Duma Speaker: grant political asylum because in US he could face the death penalty
Catherina
Jul 2013
#117
In line with the law, may become a #citizen of Russia, but may take some time
Catherina
Jul 2013
#126
But he doesn't want to be a citizen of Russia. He wants to use Russia as a temporary life raft.
randome
Jul 2013
#130
The US and Russia have considerable experience housing defectors from the other side
FarCenter
Jul 2013
#188
Duma:Snowden a human rights defender,who advocates for the rights of millions of people in the world
Catherina
Jul 2013
#133
That was confirmed by other whistleblowers. ChimpyMustGo started a new thread for it
Catherina
Jul 2013
#144
I don't think the US has violated Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
FarCenter
Jul 2013
#184
I wonder how many of the Russians feel about this "human rights" thing.....
Sheepshank
Jul 2013
#152
Duma Chairman: We expect #US to correctly interpret granting asylum as a humane thing
Catherina
Jul 2013
#163
If #Snowden accepts condition of Putin for political asylum, there is no reason for him to be denied
Catherina
Jul 2013
#169
Glenn Greenwald and Wikileaks has his documents, so Snowden can sit quiet for a while.
backscatter712
Jul 2013
#175
Russia should meet #Snowden's request for political asylum - Federation Council Chair
Catherina
Jul 2013
#171