Snowden had originally hoping to fly to Ecuador via Russia from his hiding place of Hong Kong after revealing in detail the extent of United States NSA surveillance of citizens’ phone record and internet activity.
However, a long list of countries have rejected Snowden’s request for asylum, potentially fearing retribution or falling out of favour with the USA.
Many have stated that they could not consider the request unless Snowden was present in their country. Since his US passport has been cancelled by officials in the country, he has been forced to wait in limbo at Moscow airport.
However, according to the BBC, Bolivia would consider a request. Bolivia’s president Evo Morales told Russian TV: “Bolivia is ready to accept people who disclose espionage if one can call it this way.”
“Why are they persecuting him? What has he done? Did he launch a missile and kill someone? Did he rig a bomb and kill someone? No. He is preventing war.”
Venezuela’s president Nicolas Maduro also showed support for Snowden, saying this week: “We think this young person has done something very important for humanity, has done a favour to humanity, has spoken great truths to deconstruct a world…that is controlled by an imperialist American elite.”
The Guardian, who broke the Snowden NSA scandal, has listed the official reactions from countries which have been asked to consider asylum so far.
