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NSA leaker asking 21 countries for asylum

02 July 2013 18:17 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. American whistleblower Edward Snowden has sought asylum from 21 countries after Russia and Ecuador reportedly denied his asylum petitions, APA reports quoting Press TV.

“It was a desperate measure on his part after Ecuador disavowed his political protection credentials,” an unnamed Russian Foreign Ministry official told The Los Angeles Times.

”In the document Snowden reiterated once again that he is not a traitor and explained his actions only by a desire to open the world’s eyes on the flagrant violations by U.S. special services not only of American citizens but also citizens of European Union including their NATO allies,” the official said.

Requests were made to China, Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, India and several European countries.

Snowden, who is staying in a transit area of Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport, had earlier applied for asylum from Ecuador and Russia.

However, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa said Snowden is Russia's responsibility and he would need to reach Ecuadorian territory for the country to consider an asylum request.

The NSA leaker also withdrew his request from Russia after President Vladimir Putin urged him to stop "anti-American activity."

“Snowden did ask to stay in Russia. However, when he found out Russia’s position on the matter and the associated conditions he decided not to stay in Russia,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

His new requests came after Snowden on Monday said President Barack Obama is using "tools of political aggression" in retaliation over his disclosure of information on secret spying programs.

"On Thursday, President Obama declared before the world that he would not permit any diplomatic 'wheeling and dealing' over my case," Snowden said in a statement released to WikiLeaks on Monday.

"Yet now it is being reported that after promising not to do so, the President ordered his Vice President to pressure the leaders of nations from which I have requested protection to deny my asylum petitions.

"This kind of deception from a world leader is not justice, and neither is the extralegal penalty of exile. These are the old, bad tools of political aggression. Their purpose is to frighten, not me, but those who would come after me,” he wrote.

The U.S. has charged Snowden with espionage. Snowden has revealed to the news media details of secret surveillance programs under which the U.S. spy agencies collect massive amounts of data on people’s communications via telephone and the Internet.