Russian Officials Say They Didn’t Receive an Asylum Request From Snowden

[flamingdem]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/14/world/europe/edward-snowden-asylum.html?_r=0

Mr. Lavrov’s assertion that the government has not had contact with Mr. Snowden was notable given that numerous government agencies appeared to have had a role in Friday’s meeting, including the Federal Customs Service and the airport administration.

Several of the participants in the meeting are also close to the Kremlin, including Russia’s human rights ombudsman, Vladimir P. Lukin, and Vyacheslav A. Nikonov, a member of the Duma, the lower house of Parliament.

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Mr. Snowden, in the meeting, said that the official offer of asylum that he had received from Venezuela should be regarded as giving him clear protection under international law and that he should be permitted to travel. He accused the United States and its allies of acting illegally in blocking him from traveling there.

The Russian government has itself shown little regard for the international asylum process when it has pursued fugitives abroad. In a case last fall, a political opposition leader wanted by the Russian authorities who fled to Kiev and requested asylum was kidnapped when he stepped outside of his lawyer’s office for lunch. He was put in a van by masked men and driven back to Moscow, where federal officials insisted he had surrendered.

[flamingdem]

1. Does Snowden need to kiss more Pootin to get asylum?

Edward praises Russia as "being the first to stand against human rights violations?"

http://www.nationaljournal.com/nationalsecurity/how-the-snowden-affair-became-a-freak-show-20130712