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| Snowden's Venezuela offer 'last chance' for political asylum – Russian official | Snowden's Venezuela offer 'last chance' for political asylum – Russian official |
| (1 day later) | |
| Venezuela's offer of asylum could be NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden's "last chance" to avoid extradition to the US, an influential member of the Russian parliament suggested Sunday. | Venezuela's offer of asylum could be NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden's "last chance" to avoid extradition to the US, an influential member of the Russian parliament suggested Sunday. |
| Alexei Pushkov, who chairs the Duma's foreign affairs committee and is seen to have the ear of the Kremlin, made the comment in a tweet, having previously stated his views that a move to Caracas would be the "best solution" for the fugitive. | Alexei Pushkov, who chairs the Duma's foreign affairs committee and is seen to have the ear of the Kremlin, made the comment in a tweet, having previously stated his views that a move to Caracas would be the "best solution" for the fugitive. |
| Snowden is believed to be holed up in transit area of Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, having arrived from Hong Kong two week's earlier but unable to progress further. | Snowden is believed to be holed up in transit area of Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, having arrived from Hong Kong two week's earlier but unable to progress further. |
| But on Friday and Saturday, three Latin America countries – Bolivia, Nicaragua and Venezuela – offered asylum to the man wanted in the US for leaking documents unveiling the extent of its domestic and international surveillance programme. | |
| The US highest ranking military official acknowledged Sunday that Snowden's disclosures had already damaged US relations with some allies and affected "the importance of trust". | The US highest ranking military official acknowledged Sunday that Snowden's disclosures had already damaged US relations with some allies and affected "the importance of trust". |
| The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, told CNN that the US will "work our way back. But it has set us back temporarily." | The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, told CNN that the US will "work our way back. But it has set us back temporarily." |
| Also Sunday, US House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers said he "absolutely" thinks that one of the countries offering asylum will give Snowden the papers he needs to escape extradition. | Also Sunday, US House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers said he "absolutely" thinks that one of the countries offering asylum will give Snowden the papers he needs to escape extradition. |
| He told CNN the US should look at trade agreements with the nations that are offering asylum "to send a very clear message that we won't put up with this kind of behavior". | He told CNN the US should look at trade agreements with the nations that are offering asylum "to send a very clear message that we won't put up with this kind of behavior". |
| The US has sent Venezuela an extradition request in advance of a potential move by Snowden to travel there. | The US has sent Venezuela an extradition request in advance of a potential move by Snowden to travel there. |
| In it, US authorities claims that the former National Security Agency contractor "unlawfully released classified information and documents to international media outlets" naming both the Guardian and the Washington Post. | In it, US authorities claims that the former National Security Agency contractor "unlawfully released classified information and documents to international media outlets" naming both the Guardian and the Washington Post. |
| Dated 3 July, the extradition request continues: "The United States seeks Snowden's provisional arrest should Snowden seek to travel to or transit through Venezuela. Snowden is a flight risk because of the substantial charges he is facing and his current and active attempts to remain a fugitive." | Dated 3 July, the extradition request continues: "The United States seeks Snowden's provisional arrest should Snowden seek to travel to or transit through Venezuela. Snowden is a flight risk because of the substantial charges he is facing and his current and active attempts to remain a fugitive." |
| Venezuela president Nicolas Maduro has said that the request from the US has already been rejected. | Venezuela president Nicolas Maduro has said that the request from the US has already been rejected. |
| On Friday both he and Nicaraguan counterpart Daniel Ortega offered asylum to the fugitive. It came as Latin American leaders condemned a decision to divert a plane carrying Bolivian president Evo Morales amid suspicion that Snowden might be on board. | On Friday both he and Nicaraguan counterpart Daniel Ortega offered asylum to the fugitive. It came as Latin American leaders condemned a decision to divert a plane carrying Bolivian president Evo Morales amid suspicion that Snowden might be on board. |
| Morales on Saturday also offered asylum to the young US whistleblower. But it is thought that Venezuela could be Snowden's best option. | Morales on Saturday also offered asylum to the young US whistleblower. But it is thought that Venezuela could be Snowden's best option. |
| There has been no official response from Moscow in regards to the asylum offers. | There has been no official response from Moscow in regards to the asylum offers. |
| But Pushkov's comments suggest that some influential voices in Russia are anxious for a solution. The Russian parliamentarian has previously said that Snowden can not "live" at the Moscow airport. | But Pushkov's comments suggest that some influential voices in Russia are anxious for a solution. The Russian parliamentarian has previously said that Snowden can not "live" at the Moscow airport. |
| In a tweet Sunday he went further: "Venezuela is waiting for an answer from Snowden. This, perhaps, is his last chance to receive political asylum." | In a tweet Sunday he went further: "Venezuela is waiting for an answer from Snowden. This, perhaps, is his last chance to receive political asylum." |
| But even if Snowden accepted the offer of asylum from Venezuela, problems getting to South America would continue to exist. | But even if Snowden accepted the offer of asylum from Venezuela, problems getting to South America would continue to exist. |
| The only direct commercial flight from Moscow goes to Havana, Cuba, through European and US airspace. | The only direct commercial flight from Moscow goes to Havana, Cuba, through European and US airspace. |
| Pushkov joked that if Snowden does not find shelter in Venezuela, "he will have to stay and marry Anna Chapman" – a reference to the redheaded Russian spy who was among 10 sleeper agents deported from the United States in 2010. | Pushkov joked that if Snowden does not find shelter in Venezuela, "he will have to stay and marry Anna Chapman" – a reference to the redheaded Russian spy who was among 10 sleeper agents deported from the United States in 2010. |
| The 31-year-old Chapman proposed to Snowden, who just turned 30, on Twitter last week. | The 31-year-old Chapman proposed to Snowden, who just turned 30, on Twitter last week. |
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