RUSSIA: Former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden expected to leave Moscow, media gather at airport
Record ID:
860377
RUSSIA: Former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden expected to leave Moscow, media gather at airport
- Title: RUSSIA: Former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden expected to leave Moscow, media gather at airport
- Date: 24th June 2013
- Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (JUNE 24, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF SHEREMETYEVO AIRPORT MEDIA GATHERING AROUND AIRPORT VARIOUS OF MEDIA AGENCY TRUCK NEAR AIRPORT TELEVISION CAMERA EXTERIOR OF SHEREMETYEVO AIRPORT VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING INSIDE AIRPORT FLIGHT DEPARTURE BOARD FLIGHT DEPARTURE BOARD SHOWING FLIGHT TO HAVANA VARIOUS OF EXTERIORS OF SHEREMETYEVO AIRPORT PLANE TAKING OFF PLANE TO HAVANA PREPARING FOR FLIGHT FLIGHT DEPARTURE BOARD SHOWING CHECK-IN OPEN FOR HAVANA FLIGHT PLANE TAKING OFF
- Embargoed: 9th July 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Russian Federation
- City:
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Crime
- Reuters ID: LVA42PNLUJWNAWTBDOM599I8EHQ8
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Members of the media gathered around Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow on Monday (June 24) hoping to catch a glimpse of former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden before he before he gets the chance to take an expected flight to Cuba to evade prosecution in the United States for espionage.
Snowden, whose exposure of secret U.S. government surveillance raised questions about Washington's intrusion into private lives, was allowed to leave Hong Kong on Sunday (June 23) after Washington had asked the Chinese territory to arrest him.
His decision to fly to Russia, which like China challenges U.S. dominance of global diplomacy, is another embarrassment to U.S. President Barack Obama who has tried to "reset" ties with Moscow and build a partnership with Beijing.
The White House said it expected the Russian government to send Snowden back to the United States and lodged "strong objections" to Hong Kong and China for letting him go.
Snowden was aided in his escape by WikiLeaks, the anti-secrecy organisation whose founder Julian Assange said he had helped to arrange documents from Ecuador.
Ecuador, like Cuba and Venezuela, is a member of the ALBA bloc, an alliance of leftist governments in Latin America that pride themselves on their "anti-imperialist" credentials. The Quito government has been sheltering Assange at its London embassy for the past year. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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