Russia May Consider US Spy Leaker’s Asylum Request – Media

[FarCenter]

MOSCOW, June 11 (RIA Novosti) – The Russian authorities will consider political asylum for Edward Snowden, who risks prosecution in the United States for his recent blockbuster spy leaks, if he sends a proper request, business daily Kommersant said Tuesday, citing the Kremlin spokesman.

“If we receive such a request, we will consider it,” Kommersant quoted presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov as saying.

Snowden, a 29-year-old former employee of the CIA and the National Security Agency (NSA), unmasked himself on Sunday as a source of recent disclosures about US government’s secret surveillance programs.

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20130611/181607633/Russia-May-Consider-US-Spy-Leakers-Asylum-Request--Media.html

I think that the Chinese have first dibs though.

There is no coverage by People's Daily. Complete silence from the Chinese media?

[morningfog]

1. I wish him a long unincarcerated life wherever he ends up.

[Honeycombe8]

2. I hope he likes wodka. And cold weather. And no freedom of the press or

guaranteed freedom of speech.

After he writes his book, though, he'll have enough money to have more choices of where to go. Unless, of course, the US convicts him in absentia, which may prevent him from profiting from his crime(s) he's been convicted of. But I guess that only applies if it's a U.S. publisher so that US law applies.

[struggle4progress]

8. Under current Federal court rules, a defendant can only be tried in absentia in limited

circumstances, all of which presume the defendant was present when actual prosecution of him began

So if Snowden were in Federal custody for trial, and if he escaped from custody and fled after proceedings commenced, his trial could continue despite his absence, on the theory that he had, by absconding, waived his right to be present at his own trial

In particular, while Snowden cannot be produced for prosecution, either (say) because he is abroad in a country that refuses to extradite him or because his whereabouts are unknown, he cannot be tried in absentia

[Honeycombe8]

9. Then I guess he can get a book published abroad and reap the profits. nt

[sadbear]

3. All liberatarians belong in Somalia.

Freedom, baby!

[roamer65]

4. Realistically, Russia or China are the only places he can go.

...and not be touched. Baer was right on that when he said China.

[arely staircase]

5. ah freedom loving, privacy respecting putin

just ask pussy riot.

[geek tragedy]

6. His future is very likely as a stage prop for a regime

looking to make itself look good on civil liberties.

[wandy]

7. Distorted by my dislike for republicans, Jeb Bush came to mind...........

Who Hoo, talk about a change of image.