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Edward Snowden meets rights groups at Moscow airport Edward Snowden meets rights groups at Moscow airport
(35 minutes later)
Fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden is holding a meeting with leading human rights groups and lawyers at Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow. Fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has met leading human rights groups and lawyers at Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow.
He requested the meeting with around 10 activists in the airport transit zone. He spoke to around 10 activists in the airport transit zone.
Reports say the former CIA contractor, who is wanted by the US on espionage charges, has told activists he is seeking political asylum in Russia. Mr Snowden told activists he was seeking political asylum in Russia. He had earlier dropped his application when Moscow said he could stay only if he stopped leaking US secrets.
He had earlier dropped his application when Moscow said he could stay only if he stopped leaking US secrets. The Kremlin reiterated its condition on Friday.
"Mr Snowden could hypothetically stay in Russia if he first, completely stops the activities harming our American partners and US-Russian relations and, second, if he asks for this himself," President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Mr Snowden is wanted by the US on charges of leaking secrets about US surveillance schemes.Mr Snowden is wanted by the US on charges of leaking secrets about US surveillance schemes.
He has sent requests for political asylum to at least 21 countries, most of which have turned down his request.He has sent requests for political asylum to at least 21 countries, most of which have turned down his request.
However, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Venezuela have indicated they could take him in.However, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Venezuela have indicated they could take him in.
It is thought he is considering seeking political asylum in Russia because he cannot fly out of Moscow. It is thought he is considering seeking political asylum in Russia because he cannot fly out of Moscow. "He wants to stay here until he can fly to Latin America," Tatyana Lokshina of Human Rights Watch is quoted as saying.
"He wants to stay here until he can fly to Latin America," Tatyana Lokshina of Human Rights Watch is quoted as saying. Mr Snowden is unable to leave the transit zone without asylum documents, a valid passport or a Russian visa, none of which he reportedly has.
The American cannot leave the transit zone without asylum documents, a valid passport or a Russian visa, none of which he reportedly has.
'Unlawful campaign''Unlawful campaign'
The American has reportedly been stuck in transit since arriving in Moscow from Hong Kong on 23 June, even though no pictures of his stay there emerged. The American has reportedly been stuck in transit since arriving in Moscow from Hong Kong on 23 June.
He emailed meeting requests to leading human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. On Friday, the first photo in three weeks of Mr Snowden emerged. It was taken by Ms Lokshina during the airport meeting.
Airport spokeswoman Anna Zakharenkova confirmed about 10 people had been invited to the meeting which was scheduled to take place in the transit area at around 17:00 local time (14:00 GMT). Other activists present at the gathering included Sergei Nikitin, the head of Amnesty International's Russia office, prominent Moscow lawyer Genri Reznik and Russia's presidential human rights ombudsman, Vladimir Lukin.
"We will provide access and premises," she was quoted as saying. "The exact list (of attendees) is not known."
A large press scrum gathered at the airport ahead of the meeting, while Interfax reported Mr Snowden had moved from his room in the airport's Capsule Hotel to attend the meeting.A large press scrum gathered at the airport ahead of the meeting, while Interfax reported Mr Snowden had moved from his room in the airport's Capsule Hotel to attend the meeting.
Sergei Nikitin, the head of Amnesty International's Russia office, said he had received an invitation and planned to attend the gathering. Ms Lokshina earlier posted the text of Mr Snowden's invitation email on her Facebook page.
Prominent Moscow lawyer Genrikh Padva earlier told the BBC he would also go to the meeting.
Human Rights Watch representative Tanya Lokshina posted the text of the email purported to be from Mr Snowden on her Facebook page.
In the message, the 30-year-old fugitive complained that the US government was waging an "unlawful campaign" to prevent him from securing asylum.In the message, the 30-year-old fugitive complained that the US government was waging an "unlawful campaign" to prevent him from securing asylum.
"This dangerous escalation represents a threat not just to the dignity of Latin America or my own personal security, but to the basic right shared by every living person to live free from persecution," the message read."This dangerous escalation represents a threat not just to the dignity of Latin America or my own personal security, but to the basic right shared by every living person to live free from persecution," the message read.
The email said the fugitive wanted to discuss the "next steps forward" in his situation.The email said the fugitive wanted to discuss the "next steps forward" in his situation.
It also instructed those attending to bring a copy of the invite and identification papers, as "security will likely be tight at this meeting". It also instructed those attending to bring a copy of the invitation and identification papers because of tight security.
The meeting was not open to the press. Mr Snowden said he planned to address journalists at a later stage.The meeting was not open to the press. Mr Snowden said he planned to address journalists at a later stage.
Mr Snowden had already tried to apply for Russian asylum but President Putin said at the time he would only be welcome if he stopped "his work aimed at inflicting damage on our American partners".
Even if a country accepted the American's application, getting there could prove difficult.Even if a country accepted the American's application, getting there could prove difficult.
Last week, several European countries refused to allow the jet of Bolivian president Evo Morales to cross their airspace on its way back from Moscow - apparently because of suspicions that Edward Snowden was on board.Last week, several European countries refused to allow the jet of Bolivian president Evo Morales to cross their airspace on its way back from Moscow - apparently because of suspicions that Edward Snowden was on board.
China tensionsChina tensions
Washington seeks to prosecute Mr Snowden over the leaking of thousands of classified US intelligence documents. Washington is seeking to prosecute Mr Snowden over the leaking of thousands of classified US intelligence documents.
The leaks have led to revelations that the National Security Agency is systematically seizing vast amounts of phone and web data.The leaks have led to revelations that the National Security Agency is systematically seizing vast amounts of phone and web data.
They have also revealed that both the UK and French intelligence agencies allegedly run similarly vast data collection operations, and the US has been eavesdropping on official EU communications.They have also revealed that both the UK and French intelligence agencies allegedly run similarly vast data collection operations, and the US has been eavesdropping on official EU communications.
The case has strained relations between the US and China.The case has strained relations between the US and China.
President Barack Obama said on Thursday he was "disappointed" that China had chosen not to hand over Mr Snowden to the US authorities when he was in Hong Kong in June.President Barack Obama said on Thursday he was "disappointed" that China had chosen not to hand over Mr Snowden to the US authorities when he was in Hong Kong in June.
A US government official said the decision had undermined calls for co-operation between the two countries.A US government official said the decision had undermined calls for co-operation between the two countries.
But China said Hong Kong - which allowed Mr Snowden to leave for Russia - had acted in accordance with the territory's law.But China said Hong Kong - which allowed Mr Snowden to leave for Russia - had acted in accordance with the territory's law.
"Its approach is beyond reproach," Chinese state councillor Yang Jiechi said."Its approach is beyond reproach," Chinese state councillor Yang Jiechi said.