Edward Snowden was based in Hong Kong when he leaked PRISM-related information. Given that the government back home is preparing to prosecute him, Snowden sent asylum requests to a number of countries. Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia have now extended offers of asylum to the whistleblower.
As soon as Snowden came out with his identity as the man behind PRISM leaks, the U.S. government started taking measures to have him extradited from Hong Kong to U.S. Luckily, Snowden escaped from Hong Kong just in time and landed in Russia, which is where he is currently stationed.
While many had expected that Snowden would fly to Iceland and seek asylum, he is still at Moscow. When the U.S. government suspected that he may be in the plane of the Bolivian President, the plane was forced down by the U.S. As a result of this aggressive measure, Latin American leaders recently met, denouncing the act.
At the same time, a number of Latin American countries have extended offers of asylum to Snowden. Among these are Venezeula and Nicaragua while the Bolivian President has stated that shall Snowden apply for asylum in Bolivia, his request will be accepted.
The Russian regime seems pleased with the developments and apparently looks forward to Snowden gaining asylum in any of the aforementioned Latin American countries. The issue has gained a lot of importance since the U.S. seems adamant on exhausting all measures, fair or unfair, to lay its hands on the whistleblower who unveiled the Orwellian methods used by NSA to spy on U.S. as well as non-U.S. citizens.
Courtesy: Guardian
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