Edward Snowden didn’t board a flight from Moscow to Cuba, as was expected on Monday, as he hops from country to country while running from the U.S. government.
So where in the world is the 30-year-old former National Security Agency analyst who leaked classified information about the United States’ secret surveillance programs to the media?
During a conference call with reporters Monday, WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange — who is helping Snowden find political asylum abroad — wouldn’t give specifics. But Assange said Snowden and his traveling companion are still safe as he seeks asylum.
“Both are healthy and safe and they are in contact with their legal team,” Assange said. “I cannot give further information as to their whereabouts or present circumstances.”
Assange confirmed that Snowden left Hong Kong on Sunday to begin a journey to Ecuador, where he’s hoping officials grant him asylum.
“Mr. Snowden has submitted an asylum application to Ecuador and possibly to other countries,” Assange said. “The Ecuadorian foreign minister, Patino, has said that the asylum application is being carefully considered.”
Assange, who is famous for releasing secret American military and diplomatic cables, said Snowden requested that Wikileaks use its “legal expertise and experience to secure his safety.” Snowden is currently traveling with a Wikileaks official.
Assange himself is holed up at the Ecuadorian embassy in the United Kingdom, after being granted asylum by the South American country’s government in 2012. Sweden has issued an warrant for his arrest over rape allegations, and Assange fears that could lead to his extradition to the United States for his Wikileaks activities.
During the conference call, Assange blasted the Obama administration for chasing Snowden. The U.S. government has charged Snowden with espionage charges and had asked Hong Kong to extradite him to the U.S.
“Today we have seen a range of extreme bellicose statements from the US administration attempting to bully Russia and other nations from facilitating Mr. Snowden’s asylum,” he said.
The Wikileaks founder also argued that “every person has the right to seek and receive political asylum.”
“It is counterproductive and unacceptable for the Obama administrative to try to interfere with those rights,” he said. “It reflects poorly on the U.S. administration and no self respecting country would submit to such interference or such bullying.”
