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| Snowden Is Said to Renew Plea for Asylum in Russia | Snowden Is Said to Renew Plea for Asylum in Russia |
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| MOSCOW — Edward J. Snowden, the fugitive American intelligence contractor, broke his silence after three weeks of seclusion on Friday, inviting a handpicked group of Russian human rights figures to visit him in a small conference room at Sheremetyevo Airport, where he told them he hopes to receive political asylum in Russia. | MOSCOW — Edward J. Snowden, the fugitive American intelligence contractor, broke his silence after three weeks of seclusion on Friday, inviting a handpicked group of Russian human rights figures to visit him in a small conference room at Sheremetyevo Airport, where he told them he hopes to receive political asylum in Russia. |
| Russia has sought to carve out a neutral position on Mr. Snowden’s case, wary of doing severe or permanent damage to its relationship with the United States. But after Friday’s announcement, it seems likely that Mr. Snowden will remain in Russia for some time, which he said was the only way to guarantee his security until he can safely travel to Latin America, where three countries have offered him asylum. | Russia has sought to carve out a neutral position on Mr. Snowden’s case, wary of doing severe or permanent damage to its relationship with the United States. But after Friday’s announcement, it seems likely that Mr. Snowden will remain in Russia for some time, which he said was the only way to guarantee his security until he can safely travel to Latin America, where three countries have offered him asylum. |
| Ten days ago, President Vladimir V. Putin said Mr. Snowden could stay only if he agreed to “cease his work aimed at inflicting damage on our American partners,” and Mr. Putin’s spokesman reiterated that deal Friday. Human rights figures who visited him on Friday reported that Mr. Snowden said he accepts the conditions. But he has said he does not think his prior dislcosures have hurt American interests, and it remained unclear whether he has plans to continue leaking classified documents. | |
| The development comes two months before President Obama is scheduled to visit Moscow and St. Petersburg, in an effort to reinvigorate a relationship that has declined sharply over the last year. | The development comes two months before President Obama is scheduled to visit Moscow and St. Petersburg, in an effort to reinvigorate a relationship that has declined sharply over the last year. |
| President Obama was scheduled to talk by phone with Mr. Putin Friday evening, their first conversation since Mr. Snowden arrived in Moscow. The White House complained that the prospect of Russian asylum would violate Moscow’s own stated desire to avoid any further damage to American national security, but also said the United States did not want the episode to undercut relations. | President Obama was scheduled to talk by phone with Mr. Putin Friday evening, their first conversation since Mr. Snowden arrived in Moscow. The White House complained that the prospect of Russian asylum would violate Moscow’s own stated desire to avoid any further damage to American national security, but also said the United States did not want the episode to undercut relations. |
| “Providing a propaganda platform for Mr. Snowden runs counter to the Russian government’s previous declarations of Russia’s neutrality and that they have no control over his presence in the airport,” said Jay Carney, the White House press secretary. “It’s also incompatible with Russian assurances that they do not want Mr. Snowden to further damage U.S. interests.” | “Providing a propaganda platform for Mr. Snowden runs counter to the Russian government’s previous declarations of Russia’s neutrality and that they have no control over his presence in the airport,” said Jay Carney, the White House press secretary. “It’s also incompatible with Russian assurances that they do not want Mr. Snowden to further damage U.S. interests.” |
| But he added that “we don’t believe this should, and we don’t want it to do, harm to our important relationship with Russia.” | But he added that “we don’t believe this should, and we don’t want it to do, harm to our important relationship with Russia.” |
| Nevertheless, the administration’s rapt attention to this case was evident on Friday morning. Human Rights Watch representative Tanya Lokshina, said an embassy staffer called her as she was en route to the meeting and asked her to pass on a message for Mr. Snowden. | Nevertheless, the administration’s rapt attention to this case was evident on Friday morning. Human Rights Watch representative Tanya Lokshina, said an embassy staffer called her as she was en route to the meeting and asked her to pass on a message for Mr. Snowden. |
| “He said, Ambassador McFaul asked me to share with you the official position of the U.S. authorities so that you can share it with Mr. Snowden,” Ms. Lokshina said. “He said the U.S. authorities did not consider him to be a human rights defender and a whistle-blower. He broke the law and he has to be held accountable.” | “He said, Ambassador McFaul asked me to share with you the official position of the U.S. authorities so that you can share it with Mr. Snowden,” Ms. Lokshina said. “He said the U.S. authorities did not consider him to be a human rights defender and a whistle-blower. He broke the law and he has to be held accountable.” |
| In remarks on Friday, the United Nations’ top human rights official rejected such reasoning, saying that there should be greater protections for Mr. Snowden and others like him who disclose human rights violations. | In remarks on Friday, the United Nations’ top human rights official rejected such reasoning, saying that there should be greater protections for Mr. Snowden and others like him who disclose human rights violations. |
| “Snowden’s case has shown the need to protect persons disclosing information on matters that have implications for human rights, as well as the importance of ensuring respect for the right to privacy,” the official, Navi Pillay, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a statement released in Geneva on Friday. “National legal systems must ensure that there are adequate avenues for individuals disclosing violations of human rights to express their concern without fear of reprisals.” | “Snowden’s case has shown the need to protect persons disclosing information on matters that have implications for human rights, as well as the importance of ensuring respect for the right to privacy,” the official, Navi Pillay, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a statement released in Geneva on Friday. “National legal systems must ensure that there are adequate avenues for individuals disclosing violations of human rights to express their concern without fear of reprisals.” |
| The meeting unfolded in an atmosphere of mystery, beginning late on Thursday, when a series of around a dozen Russian figures — lawyers, human rights workers and some political commentators — received an e-mailed invitation signed “Edward Joseph Snowden.” Many assumed it was a fake, but by the appointed meeting time of 5 p.m. reporters had mobbed the airport, eager for any report on Mr. Snowden and where he is. | The meeting unfolded in an atmosphere of mystery, beginning late on Thursday, when a series of around a dozen Russian figures — lawyers, human rights workers and some political commentators — received an e-mailed invitation signed “Edward Joseph Snowden.” Many assumed it was a fake, but by the appointed meeting time of 5 p.m. reporters had mobbed the airport, eager for any report on Mr. Snowden and where he is. |
| “Mr. Snowden is not a phantom, such a man exists,” said Genri M. Reznik, a prominent Russian defense lawyer. Vladimir Lukin, Russia’s human rights commissioner, told Russian television, “I shook his hand. I could feel skin and bones.” | “Mr. Snowden is not a phantom, such a man exists,” said Genri M. Reznik, a prominent Russian defense lawyer. Vladimir Lukin, Russia’s human rights commissioner, told Russian television, “I shook his hand. I could feel skin and bones.” |
| “He said that of course he is concerned about freedom of movement, lack of it, but as for the rest, he is not complaining about this living conditions,” Mr. Lukin said. “As he said, ‘I’ve seen worse situations.'” | “He said that of course he is concerned about freedom of movement, lack of it, but as for the rest, he is not complaining about this living conditions,” Mr. Lukin said. “As he said, ‘I’ve seen worse situations.'” |
| Mr. Snowden’s guests were whisked past passport control into the airport’s restricted border zone, making it obvious that Friday’s event had the blessing of Russian authorities. | Mr. Snowden’s guests were whisked past passport control into the airport’s restricted border zone, making it obvious that Friday’s event had the blessing of Russian authorities. |
| Though the Kremlin earlier signaled reluctance to consider Mr. Snowden’s application — an initial request submitted on June 30 was withdrawn — now it seems quite likely to grant 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. | Though the Kremlin earlier signaled reluctance to consider Mr. Snowden’s application — an initial request submitted on June 30 was withdrawn — now it seems quite likely to grant 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. |
| The request must first be addressed to the Federal Migration Service, which will then send its recommendation to a presidential commission that governs citizenship. | The request must first be addressed to the Federal Migration Service, which will then send its recommendation to a presidential commission that governs citizenship. |
| The question of whether Mr. Snowden should receive political asylum has been the subject of hot debate in Russia, with conservative-leaning Kremlin loyalists and many human rights figures vocally supportive of the idea. Public figures began to emerge with fresh statements of support shortly after the end of Mr. Snowden’s meeting with human rights figures. | The question of whether Mr. Snowden should receive political asylum has been the subject of hot debate in Russia, with conservative-leaning Kremlin loyalists and many human rights figures vocally supportive of the idea. Public figures began to emerge with fresh statements of support shortly after the end of Mr. Snowden’s meeting with human rights figures. |
| “I consider Edward Snowden a human rights defender, who speaks for the rights of millions and millions of people all over the world,” said Sergei Naryshkin, the speaker of Russia’s lower house of parliament and a close Putin ally. He noted that the United States still applies capital punishment, and said, “I think there is a very high risk that this punishment awaits Edward Snowden.” | “I consider Edward Snowden a human rights defender, who speaks for the rights of millions and millions of people all over the world,” said Sergei Naryshkin, the speaker of Russia’s lower house of parliament and a close Putin ally. He noted that the United States still applies capital punishment, and said, “I think there is a very high risk that this punishment awaits Edward Snowden.” |
| In fact, the charges that Mr. Snowden faces do not carry the death penalty upon conviction. | In fact, the charges that Mr. Snowden faces do not carry the death penalty upon conviction. |
| Mr. Snowden, 30, and his supporters describe him as a whistle-blower who exposed privacy abuses by the United States government. He flew from Hong Kong to Moscow June 23, evidently planning to catch a connecting flight to Latin America, but after he landed it was announced that the United States had invalidated his passport, so that he could not legally board a plane. | Mr. Snowden, 30, and his supporters describe him as a whistle-blower who exposed privacy abuses by the United States government. He flew from Hong Kong to Moscow June 23, evidently planning to catch a connecting flight to Latin America, but after he landed it was announced that the United States had invalidated his passport, so that he could not legally board a plane. |
| Meanwhile, 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. | Meanwhile, 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. |
| At the meeting on Friday, Mr. Snowden asked the assembled human rights figures to petition on his behalf, both to the United States — so that it will not block his efforts to receive asylum — and to Mr. Putin. He told his guests that he had been forced to turn to Russia for asylum because he could not travel to Latin America safely. | At the meeting on Friday, Mr. Snowden asked the assembled human rights figures to petition on his behalf, both to the United States — so that it will not block his efforts to receive asylum — and to Mr. Putin. He told his guests that he had been forced to turn to Russia for asylum because he could not travel to Latin America safely. |
| “He made it fairly clear that he would not want to stay in Russia indefinitely,” Ms. Lokshina said in an interview. | “He made it fairly clear that he would not want to stay in Russia indefinitely,” Ms. Lokshina said in an interview. |
Reporting contributed by Peter Baker from Washington, Rick Gladstone from New York, Nick Cumming-Bruce in Geneva and Noah Sneider from Moscow. | Reporting contributed by Peter Baker from Washington, Rick Gladstone from New York, Nick Cumming-Bruce in Geneva and Noah Sneider from Moscow. |