Hong Kong says Snowden has left the country
June 23, 2013
HONG KONG — The Hong Kong government said that a former National Security Agency contractor wanted by the U.S. for revealing two highly classified surveillance programs has left for a "on his own accord for a third country". The U.S. government had contacted authorities in Hong Kong to seek the extradition of Edward Snowden, the former government contractor accused of espionage for leaking classified information about two secret surveillance programs run by the National Security Agency.
Hong Kong said in a statement that it allowed Snowden to leave despite an extradition request from the U.S. because documents provided by the U.S. government did not "fully comply with the legal requirements under Hong Kong law," and the U.S. had not yet provided the additional information requested to consider the U.S. request for a provisional arrest warrant. It said there was no legal basis to stop Snowden from leaving, and the U.S. had been informed of his departure. Russia Today is reporting Snowden is aboard on Aeroflot flight due to land in Moscow today. Ecuador or Iceland may be potential final destinations.
June 23, 2013
HONG KONG — The Hong Kong government said that a former National Security Agency contractor wanted by the U.S. for revealing two highly classified surveillance programs has left for a "on his own accord for a third country". The U.S. government had contacted authorities in Hong Kong to seek the extradition of Edward Snowden, the former government contractor accused of espionage for leaking classified information about two secret surveillance programs run by the National Security Agency.
Hong Kong said in a statement that it allowed Snowden to leave despite an extradition request from the U.S. because documents provided by the U.S. government did not "fully comply with the legal requirements under Hong Kong law," and the U.S. had not yet provided the additional information requested to consider the U.S. request for a provisional arrest warrant. It said there was no legal basis to stop Snowden from leaving, and the U.S. had been informed of his departure. Russia Today is reporting Snowden is aboard on Aeroflot flight due to land in Moscow today. Ecuador or Iceland may be potential final destinations.
Seems to me that Hong Kong (or China) has decided to spring Snowden rather than cooperate with the US DoJ.
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