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| Snowden Is Said to Renew Plea for Asylum in Russia | Snowden Is Said to Renew Plea for Asylum in Russia |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MOSCOW — Edward J. Snowden, the fugitive American intelligence contractor, met with representatives of international human rights organizations at his temporary Moscow airport refuge on Friday afternoon and appealed for their help in seeking asylum status in Russia until he can safely travel to Latin America. | MOSCOW — Edward J. Snowden, the fugitive American intelligence contractor, met with representatives of international human rights organizations at his temporary Moscow airport refuge on Friday afternoon and appealed for their help in seeking asylum status in Russia until he can safely travel to Latin America. |
| Breaking his silence and seclusion after having spent nearly three weeks in geopolitical limbo within the international transit zone at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow, Mr. Snowden told the representatives that “the only way for him to have safety guarantees for temporary stay in Russia is apparently to get an asylum in Russia,” Tanya Lokshina, a Human Rights Watch representative who attended the meeting, said in an e-mail. “So he is asking for one.” | Breaking his silence and seclusion after having spent nearly three weeks in geopolitical limbo within the international transit zone at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow, Mr. Snowden told the representatives that “the only way for him to have safety guarantees for temporary stay in Russia is apparently to get an asylum in Russia,” Tanya Lokshina, a Human Rights Watch representative who attended the meeting, said in an e-mail. “So he is asking for one.” |
| Mr. Snowden had expressed interest in applying for asylum in Russia after his first week at the airport but quickly reconsidered after hearing the Kremlin’s conditions, Russian officials have said. President Vladimir V. Putin, who has not appeared eager to grant Mr. Snowden asylum, has said that Mr. Snowden could stay in Russia only if he agreed to “cease his work aimed at inflicting damage on our American partners.” | Mr. Snowden had expressed interest in applying for asylum in Russia after his first week at the airport but quickly reconsidered after hearing the Kremlin’s conditions, Russian officials have said. President Vladimir V. Putin, who has not appeared eager to grant Mr. Snowden asylum, has said that Mr. Snowden could stay in Russia only if he agreed to “cease his work aimed at inflicting damage on our American partners.” |
| Vyacheslav A. Nikonov, a pro-Kremlin political scientist who attended the meeting, said that Mr. Snowden now seemed comfortable agreeing to that condition. But it remained unclear whether that would mean Mr. Snowden would stop releasing classified American intelligence data. He has said previously that he does not consider such disclosures to be harmful to American interests. | Vyacheslav A. Nikonov, a pro-Kremlin political scientist who attended the meeting, said that Mr. Snowden now seemed comfortable agreeing to that condition. But it remained unclear whether that would mean Mr. Snowden would stop releasing classified American intelligence data. He has said previously that he does not consider such disclosures to be harmful to American interests. |
| “He said, ‘Yes, he is aware of the conditions, and it is very easy for him to answer ‘yes,'” Mr. Nikonov said. “He agrees with the conditions. First, because all he did to hurt the interests of the United States is in the past, and what the journalists are doing now is not his fault. And second, he has no intention of hurting the United States more, since he is a loyal citizen.” | “He said, ‘Yes, he is aware of the conditions, and it is very easy for him to answer ‘yes,'” Mr. Nikonov said. “He agrees with the conditions. First, because all he did to hurt the interests of the United States is in the past, and what the journalists are doing now is not his fault. And second, he has no intention of hurting the United States more, since he is a loyal citizen.” |
| Genri M. Reznik, a prominent Russian defense lawyer who also had been invited to the meeting, said that there was no evidence of Russian security personnel there. He noted, however, that the government had clearly approved the event, since airport officials collected the attendees’ passports and escorted them to the sector of the airport that is considered an international border zone. | Genri M. Reznik, a prominent Russian defense lawyer who also had been invited to the meeting, said that there was no evidence of Russian security personnel there. He noted, however, that the government had clearly approved the event, since airport officials collected the attendees’ passports and escorted them to the sector of the airport that is considered an international border zone. |
| “That’s what we would call ‘political will’ here,” he said. He added that Mr. Snowden appeared healthy and cheerful. | “That’s what we would call ‘political will’ here,” he said. He added that Mr. Snowden appeared healthy and cheerful. |
| “He spoke like a free man! He was smiling,” Mr. Reznik said. | “He spoke like a free man! He was smiling,” Mr. Reznik said. |
| Sergei Nikitin, an invited representative from Amnesty International, also said Mr. Snowden appeared well, describing his appearance as “entirely cheerful.” | Sergei Nikitin, an invited representative from Amnesty International, also said Mr. Snowden appeared well, describing his appearance as “entirely cheerful.” |
| “I asked him if he had enough time to learn some Russian, and he smiled at my joke,” Mr. Nikitin said. “He had a pleasant face.” | |
| Moments after Mr. Snowden made clear that he was seeking asylum in Russia, Mr. Putin’s spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, told the Interfax news agency that Mr. Putin’s condition is still in force, and that Mr. Snowden could hypothetically remain if he agreed to it. | Moments after Mr. Snowden made clear that he was seeking asylum in Russia, Mr. Putin’s spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, told the Interfax news agency that Mr. Putin’s condition is still in force, and that Mr. Snowden could hypothetically remain if he agreed to it. |
| After the meeting, Anatoly Kucherena, a Kremlin-connected lawyer who also was on the list of invitees, told Russian television that he believed the decision on whether to grant Mr. Snowden asylum could be made within two or three weeks. He said the request must first be addressed to the Federal Migration Service, which will then send its recommendation to a presidential commission that governs citizenship. | After the meeting, Anatoly Kucherena, a Kremlin-connected lawyer who also was on the list of invitees, told Russian television that he believed the decision on whether to grant Mr. Snowden asylum could be made within two or three weeks. He said the request must first be addressed to the Federal Migration Service, which will then send its recommendation to a presidential commission that governs citizenship. |
| Russian officials have suggested more than once that they would like Mr. Snowden to leave Russia, where he fled on June 23 from Hong Kong, one step ahead of an American extradition request to prosecute him on charges he violated espionage laws by revealing classified American surveillance information. | Russian officials have suggested more than once that they would like Mr. Snowden to leave Russia, where he fled on June 23 from Hong Kong, one step ahead of an American extradition request to prosecute him on charges he violated espionage laws by revealing classified American surveillance information. |
| Mr. Snowden, 30, and his supporters describe him as a whistle-blower who exposed privacy abuses by the United States government. | Mr. Snowden, 30, and his supporters describe him as a whistle-blower who exposed privacy abuses by the United States government. |
| The Kremlin has tried to stake out a neutral position on Mr. Snowden. Either granting or refusing his request for asylum carries risks: To refuse his application would send the message that Russia has bent to the will of the United States, while granting it could inflict long-term damage on relations with Washington. | The Kremlin has tried to stake out a neutral position on Mr. Snowden. Either granting or refusing his request for asylum carries risks: To refuse his application would send the message that Russia has bent to the will of the United States, while granting it could inflict long-term damage on relations with Washington. |
| The United States has revoked Mr. Snowden’s passport, complicating his effort for further travel and leaving him in geopolitical limbo. | The United States has revoked Mr. Snowden’s passport, complicating his effort for further travel and leaving him in geopolitical limbo. |
| According to Ms. Lokshina, Mr. Snowden asked the assembled human rights figures to petition on his behalf, to the United States — so that it will not block his efforts to receive asylum — and to Mr. Putin. She said Mr. Snowden told his guests that he had been forced to turn to Russia for asylum because he could not travel to Latin America safely. | |
| Ms. Lokshina said in her e-mail that Mr. Snowden “wants our assistance in getting guarantees of safe passage to Latin America and safety guarantees to stay in Russia until he can travel to Latin America.” | Ms. Lokshina said in her e-mail that Mr. Snowden “wants our assistance in getting guarantees of safe passage to Latin America and safety guarantees to stay in Russia until he can travel to Latin America.” |
| She also said that Mr. Snowden had asked the representatives to “petition the U.S. and European states not to interfere with the asylum process.” | She also said that Mr. Snowden had asked the representatives to “petition the U.S. and European states not to interfere with the asylum process.” |
| Mr. Snowden requested the meeting at the airport in a series of e-mails that were delivered to a number of human rights figures on Thursday. | Mr. Snowden requested the meeting at the airport in a series of e-mails that were delivered to a number of human rights figures on Thursday. |
| Anna Zakharenkova, the airport’s director of public relations, said that the rights workers were escorted through security and passport control and into the transit zone at 5 p.m. | Anna Zakharenkova, the airport’s director of public relations, said that the rights workers were escorted through security and passport control and into the transit zone at 5 p.m. |
| The guests were guided onto a bus, which traveled a short distance before delivering them to another spot in the terminal, and they were led to a small room where Mr. Snowden was seated at a desk. Photographs taken at the meeting showed him to be looking well, in a crisp button-down shirt and a slight growth of beard. To his right sat Sarah Harrison, an employee of WikiLeaks, the anti-secrecy group, which has been assisting him in seeking refuge from American prosecution. | The guests were guided onto a bus, which traveled a short distance before delivering them to another spot in the terminal, and they were led to a small room where Mr. Snowden was seated at a desk. Photographs taken at the meeting showed him to be looking well, in a crisp button-down shirt and a slight growth of beard. To his right sat Sarah Harrison, an employee of WikiLeaks, the anti-secrecy group, which has been assisting him in seeking refuge from American prosecution. |
| No invitation was extended to Russian officials, said Dmitri S. Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman. Journalists who asked to be included were told that Mr. Snowden’s team “will be following up with the press shortly afterward.” | No invitation was extended to Russian officials, said Dmitri S. Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman. Journalists who asked to be included were told that Mr. Snowden’s team “will be following up with the press shortly afterward.” |
| The United States has conducted a diplomatic full-court press in an effort to prevent Mr. Snowden from receiving asylum in Bolivia, Nicaragua or Venezuela, three left-leaning governments that have said they would take him in. | The United States has conducted a diplomatic full-court press in an effort to prevent Mr. Snowden from receiving asylum in Bolivia, Nicaragua or Venezuela, three left-leaning governments that have said they would take him in. |
| Ms. Lokshina of Human Rights Watch said she had initially harbored doubts about the Snowden invitation’s authenticity. “I’m not sure this is for real, but compelled to give it a try,” she wrote in a post on Facebook. “I wouldn’t want to create an impression that HRW is not interested in what Snowden has to say.” | Ms. Lokshina of Human Rights Watch said she had initially harbored doubts about the Snowden invitation’s authenticity. “I’m not sure this is for real, but compelled to give it a try,” she wrote in a post on Facebook. “I wouldn’t want to create an impression that HRW is not interested in what Snowden has to say.” |
| The e-mail, signed “Edward Joseph Snowden,” said he had “been extremely fortunate to enjoy and accept many offers of support and asylum from brave countries around the world,” and that he hoped to visit each of them personally to express his thanks. It went on to say that the American government had carried out an “unlawful campaign” to block his asylum bids. | The e-mail, signed “Edward Joseph Snowden,” said he had “been extremely fortunate to enjoy and accept many offers of support and asylum from brave countries around the world,” and that he hoped to visit each of them personally to express his thanks. It went on to say that the American government had carried out an “unlawful campaign” to block his asylum bids. |
| “The scale of threatening behavior is without precedent: never before in history have states conspired to force to the ground a sovereign president’s plane to effect a search for a political refugee,” the note said. “I invite the human rights organizations or other respected individuals addressed to join me on 12 July at 5 p.m. at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow for a brief statement and discussion regarding the next steps forward in my situation.” | “The scale of threatening behavior is without precedent: never before in history have states conspired to force to the ground a sovereign president’s plane to effect a search for a political refugee,” the note said. “I invite the human rights organizations or other respected individuals addressed to join me on 12 July at 5 p.m. at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow for a brief statement and discussion regarding the next steps forward in my situation.” |
| The message referred to an episode on July 2 in which a plane carrying President Evo Morales back to Bolivia from Moscow was rerouted after being denied entry into the airspace of France and Portugal because of suspicions that Mr. Snowden was on board. | The message referred to an episode on July 2 in which a plane carrying President Evo Morales back to Bolivia from Moscow was rerouted after being denied entry into the airspace of France and Portugal because of suspicions that Mr. Snowden was on board. |
Rick Gladstone contributed reporting from New York. | Rick Gladstone contributed reporting from New York. |