Snowden’s Options Grow as Russia’s Patience Wears Thin
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The Guardian via Getty Images(MOSCOW) — With at least three countries now offering Edward Snowden asylum, a prominent member of Russia’s parliament is urging the former National Security Agency contractor to quickly make up his mind.
Alexei Pushkov said this weekend that Snowden, 30, should pick Venezuela, which along with Nicaragua and Bolivia have promised to allow the American to live in their countries to escape extradition to the U.S.
Snowden is charged with espionage for leaking intelligence about NSA surveillance programs. For more than two weeks, he has been holed up in the transit area of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport, trying to figure a way out of Russia.
Complicating matters is that the U.S. has voided his passport, greatly limiting Snowden’s travel options. His chief problem is getting to the countries that will have him.
What Snowden needs is valid foreign travel identification from Venezuela, or wherever he ultimately chooses to go.
Should his papers come through, Snowden would presumably fly to Cuba, which is friendly to his cause, and then board a plane to Caracas, Venezuela.
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