This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/25/world/edward-snowden-nsa-surveillance-leak.html

The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 14 Version 15
U.S. Urges Russia to Hand Over Snowden U.S. Urges Russia to Hand Over Snowden
(35 minutes later)
MOSCOW — Intrigue deepened on Monday over the whereabouts of Edward J. Snowden, the fugitive former National Security Agency contractor accused of espionage, when he did not leave Moscow on a planned flight to Havana, one day after Hong Kong frustrated his American pursuers by allowing him to leave on a Moscow-bound flight. WASHINGTON — An increasingly frustrated Obama administration escalated its criticism on Monday of Russia, China and Ecuador, the countries that appeared to be protecting Edward J. Snowden, the fugitive former government contractor wanted for leaking classified documents, who has eluded what has become a global American manhunt.
An exasperated Obama administration urged Russia to expel Mr. Snowden and return him to the United States, and said relations with China had been dealt a setback. The White House spokesman, Jay Carney, told reporters that relations with China had suffered a setback over its apparent role in approving a decision on Sunday by Hong Kong to let Mr. Snowden board a flight to Moscow and avoid arrest — even though his passport had been revoked. Mr. Carney also warned the Russian authorities that they should expel Mr. Snowden into American custody.
Mr. Snowden’s vacant seat on the Havana flight raised the possibility that the Russian government had detained him, either to consider Washington’s demands to intercept him and return him to the United States or perhaps to question him for Russia’s own purposes. Mr. Snowden, 30, a former National Security Agency contractor whose leaks about American surveillance activities have captivated world attention, had apparently been set to board a flight from Moscow to Havana on Monday as part of an effort to seek political asylum in Ecuador, which has provided him with special travel papers. But in a deepening intrigue over his whereabouts, Mr. Snowden never boarded the flight.
The authorities in Hong Kong said Mr. Snowden boarded an Aeroflot flight to Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport that arrived on Sunday afternoon. But he was never photographed in Hong Kong and has not been seen publicly since his reported arrival in Moscow. Arriving passengers on that flight, interviewed at the airport, said they could not confirm that he had been aboard. Mr. Snowden’s vacant seat raised the possibility that the Russian government had detained him, either to consider Washington’s demands or perhaps to question him for Russia’s own purposes.
The situation appeared to be increasingly infuriating for American officials, who have charged Mr. Snowden with illegally disclosing classified documents about American surveillance programs. Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, the anti-secrecy organization that has said it is helping Mr. Snowden, told reporters that Mr. Snowden was in a safe and secure place. The government of Ecuador, which is also protecting Mr. Assange, said it was still considering Mr. Snowden’s asylum request. But there was no direct word from Mr. Snowden himself.
On a visit to New Delhi on Monday, Secretary of State John Kerry also emphasized that Russia should send Mr. Snowden to the United States. "I would urge them to live by the standards of the law,” he said. American officials have reacted with increasing anger over their failure to win foreign cooperation in their pursuit of Mr. Snowden, who had been hiding in Hong Kong for the past few weeks with a trove of classified information on four laptop computers. Mr. Snowden has said he leaked the information about American surveillance to expose the government’s invasion of privacy. He has been charged with violating espionage laws.
In Washington, the White House press secretary, Jay Carney, said the American government believed that Mr. Snowden is in Moscow and argued that he should be turned over. "It is our assumption that he is in Russia, yes," he told reporters. "We do expect the Russian government to look at all the options available to them to expel Mr. Snowden back to the United States." Further ramping up the criticism on Monday, a senior government official in Washington denounced both Mr. Snowden and the triumvirate of countries that appeared to be helping him.
Mr. Carney warned Hong Kong and China that the decision to let Mr. Snowden leave for Moscow would damage ties. "This was a deliberate choice by the government to release a fugitive," he said, adding that it "unquestionably has a negative impact" on relations between the two countries. “Mr. Snowden’s claim that he is focused on supporting transparency, freedom of the press, and protection of individual rights and democracy is belied by the protectors he has potentially chosen: China, Russia and Ecuador,” the official said in a statement. “Working with such nations — each of which has been cited for its failure to permit freedom of expression and of the press — makes clear that his true motive throughout has been to injure the national security of the U.S., not to advance Internet freedom and free speech.”
“If we cannot count on them to honor their legal extradition responsibilities, then that is a problem,” Mr. Carney added. The Snowden pursuit dominated the questioning at the daily noon White House press briefing in Washington, where Mr. Carney reiterated the American view that the authorities in Hong Kong, which follows China’s directives, should have detained Mr. Snowden and that it had plenty of time to do so. “We see this as a setback in terms of efforts to build mutual trust,” Mr. Carney told reporters.
Security was extremely tight at the gate at Sheremetyevo airport on Monday as agents called passengers to board the Havana-bound Aeroflot aircraft. Police officers stood around the plane on the tarmac, and the entrance to the gate inside the terminal was cordoned off with about 25 feet of blue ribbon. He also said that “it is our understanding that Mr. Snowden remains in Russia” and that “we have asked the Russians to look at the options available to them to expel Mr. Snowden back to the United States.”
Mr. Snowden was said to have reserved a ticket on the flight, Aeroflot Flight 150, in coach seat 17A. But just before the plane pulled away, Nikolay Sokolov, an Aeroflot employee at the gate, said that Mr. Snowden was not on board. “He is not there,” Mr. Sokolov said. “I was waiting myself.” A police officer asked a member of the ground crew if everyone had arrived. The reply was: “Minus five.” Earlier Monday on a visit to New Delhi, Secretary of State John Kerry also emphasized that Russia should send Mr. Snowden to the United States. "I would urge them to live by the standards of the law,” he said.
WikiLeaks, the antisecrecy group, has said that Mr. Snowden approached it for support and legal advice, and that it has advised him on seeking asylum. It also has helped him get a temporary refugee travel document from Ecuador’s government to use after his American passport was revoked on Saturday. Security was extremely tight at the gate at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport on Monday as agents called passengers to board the Havana-bound Aeroflot aircraft. Police officers stood around the plane on the tarmac, and the entrance to the gate inside the terminal was cordoned off with about 25 feet of blue ribbon.
In a telephone conference call with reporters on Monday morning, Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder, said Mr. Snowden was “healthy and safe” but declined to specify his whereabouts. Mr. Snowden was said to have reserved a ticket on the flight, Aeroflot Flight 150, in coach seat 17A. But just before the plane pulled away, Nikolay Sokolov, an Aeroflot employee at the gate, said that Mr. Snowden was not on board. “He is not there,” Mr. Sokolov said. “I was waiting myself.”
Speaking from his own refuge in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, Mr. Assange said that reports that Mr. Snowden had been questioned by Russian intelligence were false. Asked about reports that Mr. Snowden had been questioned by the Chinese authorities, Mr. Assange said: “As far as I’m aware, that is false.” The unwillingness of the Hong Kong authorities to detain Mr. Snowden, and Ecuador’s public declaration that it was considering his asylum request, underscored just how little sympathy the United States was receiving from several countries over the unveiling of its surveillance efforts.
Earlier on Monday, the group posted a message on Twitter criticizing the United States.
“US bullying Russia for Snowden’s rendition is counterproductive,” it said. “No self-respecting state would accept such unlawful demands.” The use of “rendition” was an explicit reference to the way the United States has handled terrorism suspects.
The unwillingness of the Hong Kong authorities to detain Mr. Snowden, and Ecuador’s public declaration that it was considering his asylum request, underscored just how little sympathy the United States is finding from several countries over the unveiling of its surveillance efforts.
Russia had seemed intent on allowing Mr. Snowden to transit through Moscow, but at the highest levels of the Russian government officials seemed to be pulling a page from a cold war playbook, coyly denying any knowledge of Mr. Snowden.Russia had seemed intent on allowing Mr. Snowden to transit through Moscow, but at the highest levels of the Russian government officials seemed to be pulling a page from a cold war playbook, coyly denying any knowledge of Mr. Snowden.
“Over all, we have no information about him,” Dmitri S. Peskov, the spokesman for President Vladimir V. Putin, told Reuters early on Monday.“Over all, we have no information about him,” Dmitri S. Peskov, the spokesman for President Vladimir V. Putin, told Reuters early on Monday.
Nikolay N. Zakharov, a spokesman for the Russian Federal Security Service, or F.S.B., declined to say if intelligence officials had met with Mr. Snowden during the time he spent at the transit area of the airport. Nor would Mr. Zakharov say if they had sought to examine the secret files he was said to be carrying on four computers. Nikolay N. Zakharov, a spokesman for the Russian Federal Security Service, or F.S.B., declined to say if intelligence officials had met with Mr. Snowden during the time he spent at the transit area of the airport. Nor would Mr. Zakharov say if they had sought to examine the secret files he was said to be carrying.
“On this question, we will not comment,” Mr. Zakharov said.“On this question, we will not comment,” Mr. Zakharov said.
A scattering of tourists carrying bags from the duty-free shops boarded the Havana-bound plane, but many of the passengers were journalists hoping to trail Mr. Snowden on the next leg of his extraordinary odyssey, which began early Sunday when he fled his hide-out in Hong Kong.A scattering of tourists carrying bags from the duty-free shops boarded the Havana-bound plane, but many of the passengers were journalists hoping to trail Mr. Snowden on the next leg of his extraordinary odyssey, which began early Sunday when he fled his hide-out in Hong Kong.
Several journalists carrying American passports were ejected from the aircraft because they lacked the visa requirements to visit Cuba.Several journalists carrying American passports were ejected from the aircraft because they lacked the visa requirements to visit Cuba.
Diplomats and law enforcement officials from the United States warned countries in Latin America not to harbor Mr. Snowden or allow him to pass through to other destinations after he fled Hong Kong for Moscow, possibly en route to Ecuador or another nation where he could seek asylum.Diplomats and law enforcement officials from the United States warned countries in Latin America not to harbor Mr. Snowden or allow him to pass through to other destinations after he fled Hong Kong for Moscow, possibly en route to Ecuador or another nation where he could seek asylum.
There are no direct commercial flights from Moscow to Ecuador or to Venezuela, another potential destination for Mr. Snowden, and any stopover would create an opportunity for local authorities to seize him. Another possibility was that Mr. Snowden could leave Moscow on a private plane.There are no direct commercial flights from Moscow to Ecuador or to Venezuela, another potential destination for Mr. Snowden, and any stopover would create an opportunity for local authorities to seize him. Another possibility was that Mr. Snowden could leave Moscow on a private plane.
In New Delhi, Mr. Kerry said that the United States had extradited seven individuals to Russia in response to Russian requests. “I think reciprocity in the enforcement of the law is pretty important,” he said.In New Delhi, Mr. Kerry said that the United States had extradited seven individuals to Russia in response to Russian requests. “I think reciprocity in the enforcement of the law is pretty important,” he said.
Mr. Kerry said that it was ironic that Mr. Snowden may have been seeking the cooperation of China and Russia in his flight, given their positions in restricting Internet freedom. William J. Burns, the deputy secretary of state, has been in touch with Russian authorities on the Snowden matter, Mr. Kerry said.Mr. Kerry said that it was ironic that Mr. Snowden may have been seeking the cooperation of China and Russia in his flight, given their positions in restricting Internet freedom. William J. Burns, the deputy secretary of state, has been in touch with Russian authorities on the Snowden matter, Mr. Kerry said.
It was unclear how Mr. Snowden spent his time at the Moscow airport or precisely where he had spent it. The departure of the flight to Havana came after an all-night vigil by journalists who were posted outside a hotel in the transit zone of the airport where Mr. Snowden was apparently staying. But on Monday morning, hotel staff said that no one named Snowden was staying there.It was unclear how Mr. Snowden spent his time at the Moscow airport or precisely where he had spent it. The departure of the flight to Havana came after an all-night vigil by journalists who were posted outside a hotel in the transit zone of the airport where Mr. Snowden was apparently staying. But on Monday morning, hotel staff said that no one named Snowden was staying there.
The White House, in its first official statement released just after midnight on Monday, expressed disappointment in Hong Kong’s decision to allow Mr. Snowden to leave and pressed Russia to turn him over, citing the cooperation between the two countries since the Boston Marathon bombings.The White House, in its first official statement released just after midnight on Monday, expressed disappointment in Hong Kong’s decision to allow Mr. Snowden to leave and pressed Russia to turn him over, citing the cooperation between the two countries since the Boston Marathon bombings.
The turn of events opened a startling new chapter in a case that had already captivated many in the United States and around the world. Mr. Snowden’s transcontinental escape was seen as a fresh embarrassment for the Obama administration and raised questions about its tactics in the case, like its failure to immediately revoke Mr. Snowden’s passport.The turn of events opened a startling new chapter in a case that had already captivated many in the United States and around the world. Mr. Snowden’s transcontinental escape was seen as a fresh embarrassment for the Obama administration and raised questions about its tactics in the case, like its failure to immediately revoke Mr. Snowden’s passport.
It also further complicated Washington’s ties with Russia and China, where at least some officials take delight in tweaking what they call American double standards.It also further complicated Washington’s ties with Russia and China, where at least some officials take delight in tweaking what they call American double standards.
Mr. Assange said Sunday that he had raised Mr. Snowden’s case with Ecuador’s government. Baltasar Garzón, the renowned Spanish jurist who advises WikiLeaks, said in a statement that “what is being done to Mr. Snowden and to Mr. Julian Assange — for making or facilitating disclosures in the public interest — is an assault against the people.”Mr. Assange said Sunday that he had raised Mr. Snowden’s case with Ecuador’s government. Baltasar Garzón, the renowned Spanish jurist who advises WikiLeaks, said in a statement that “what is being done to Mr. Snowden and to Mr. Julian Assange — for making or facilitating disclosures in the public interest — is an assault against the people.”
Obama administration officials expressed frustration that Hong Kong allowed Mr. Snowden to board the Moscow-bound flight despite the American request for his detention. But they did not revoke Mr. Snowden’s passport until Saturday and did not ask Interpol to issue a “red notice” seeking his arrest.Obama administration officials expressed frustration that Hong Kong allowed Mr. Snowden to board the Moscow-bound flight despite the American request for his detention. But they did not revoke Mr. Snowden’s passport until Saturday and did not ask Interpol to issue a “red notice” seeking his arrest.
An administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said no red notice was requested because they are “most valuable when the whereabouts of a fugitive are unknown.” Since Mr. Snowden was known to be in Hong Kong, the official said, his provisional arrest had been sought under an existing American agreement with Hong Kong.An administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said no red notice was requested because they are “most valuable when the whereabouts of a fugitive are unknown.” Since Mr. Snowden was known to be in Hong Kong, the official said, his provisional arrest had been sought under an existing American agreement with Hong Kong.
On Sunday, the Hong Kong authorities said that the American arrest request “did not fully comply with the legal requirements under Hong Kong law,” and therefore they could not legally stop Mr. Snowden from leaving. The Justice Department rejected this explanation and provided a timeline of interactions suggesting that the Hong Kong authorities first requested “additional information” on Friday.On Sunday, the Hong Kong authorities said that the American arrest request “did not fully comply with the legal requirements under Hong Kong law,” and therefore they could not legally stop Mr. Snowden from leaving. The Justice Department rejected this explanation and provided a timeline of interactions suggesting that the Hong Kong authorities first requested “additional information” on Friday.
“At no point, in all of our discussions through Friday, did the authorities in Hong Kong raise any issues regarding the sufficiency of the U.S.'s provisional arrest request,” a department official said. “In light of this, we find their decision to be particularly troubling.”“At no point, in all of our discussions through Friday, did the authorities in Hong Kong raise any issues regarding the sufficiency of the U.S.'s provisional arrest request,” a department official said. “In light of this, we find their decision to be particularly troubling.”
A person knowledgeable about the Hong Kong government’s deliberations said that there was considerable annoyance in Hong Kong about Washington’s handling of the case as well.A person knowledgeable about the Hong Kong government’s deliberations said that there was considerable annoyance in Hong Kong about Washington’s handling of the case as well.
Particularly troublesome to Hong Kong was that the United States request for the surrender of Mr. Snowden had accused him of violating the Espionage Act, and not just of stealing materials or other crimes that would clearly be considered criminal and not political matters. Charging Mr. Snowden under the Espionage Act may have been good politics in the United States, but was bad politics in terms of persuading Hong Kong to surrender Mr. Snowden, the person said.Particularly troublesome to Hong Kong was that the United States request for the surrender of Mr. Snowden had accused him of violating the Espionage Act, and not just of stealing materials or other crimes that would clearly be considered criminal and not political matters. Charging Mr. Snowden under the Espionage Act may have been good politics in the United States, but was bad politics in terms of persuading Hong Kong to surrender Mr. Snowden, the person said.
Mr. Snowden was not spying for China, and neither Hong Kong government personnel not Chinese government agents attempted to interview or interrogate him at any time during his stay, the person said. But the appearance of surrendering someone on an Espionage Act charge worried many in the government here.Mr. Snowden was not spying for China, and neither Hong Kong government personnel not Chinese government agents attempted to interview or interrogate him at any time during his stay, the person said. But the appearance of surrendering someone on an Espionage Act charge worried many in the government here.
“I don’t think you can send a guy back for spying for China, otherwise no one will spy for us,” the person said.“I don’t think you can send a guy back for spying for China, otherwise no one will spy for us,” the person said.
Legal experts said the administration appeared to have flubbed Mr. Snowden’s case. “What mystifies me is that the State Department didn’t revoke his passport after the charges were filed” on June 14, said David H. Laufman, a former federal prosecutor. “They missed an opportunity to freeze him in place.” He said he was also puzzled by the decision to unseal the charges on Friday rather than waiting until the defendant was in custody.Legal experts said the administration appeared to have flubbed Mr. Snowden’s case. “What mystifies me is that the State Department didn’t revoke his passport after the charges were filed” on June 14, said David H. Laufman, a former federal prosecutor. “They missed an opportunity to freeze him in place.” He said he was also puzzled by the decision to unseal the charges on Friday rather than waiting until the defendant was in custody.
It was not clear whether the Hong Kong authorities knew that Mr. Snowden’s passport had been revoked when he boarded the plane, nor was it clear whether revoking it earlier would have made a difference, given the Ecuadorean travel document that Mr. Assange said he helped arrange. When Mr. Snowden landed in Moscow, he was informed of his passport revocation, Mr. Assange said.It was not clear whether the Hong Kong authorities knew that Mr. Snowden’s passport had been revoked when he boarded the plane, nor was it clear whether revoking it earlier would have made a difference, given the Ecuadorean travel document that Mr. Assange said he helped arrange. When Mr. Snowden landed in Moscow, he was informed of his passport revocation, Mr. Assange said.
Mr. Assange also said he did not know whether Mr. Snowden might be able to travel beyond Moscow using the Ecuadorean document. “Different airlines have different rules, so it’s a technical matter whether they will accept the document,” he said.Mr. Assange also said he did not know whether Mr. Snowden might be able to travel beyond Moscow using the Ecuadorean document. “Different airlines have different rules, so it’s a technical matter whether they will accept the document,” he said.
Mr. Assange sought refuge in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London a year ago to avoid extradition to Sweden for questioning in a sexual-offense investigation, but the British authorities have not permitted him to leave the country without risking arrest. Mr. Snowden could end up in a similar predicament, accepted by Ecuador or another country but unable to get there.Mr. Assange sought refuge in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London a year ago to avoid extradition to Sweden for questioning in a sexual-offense investigation, but the British authorities have not permitted him to leave the country without risking arrest. Mr. Snowden could end up in a similar predicament, accepted by Ecuador or another country but unable to get there.
Mr. Snowden, who by his own account downloaded classified documents while working in Hawaii for the National Security Agency as an employee of Booz Allen Hamilton, has said he unveiled secret American surveillance programs because he believed they violated privacy boundaries.Mr. Snowden, who by his own account downloaded classified documents while working in Hawaii for the National Security Agency as an employee of Booz Allen Hamilton, has said he unveiled secret American surveillance programs because he believed they violated privacy boundaries.

David M. Herszenhorn and Ellen Barry reported from Moscow, and Peter Baker from Washington. Reporting was contributed by Andrew Roth from Moscow; Scott Shane, Steven Lee Myers and Charlie Savage from Washington; Keith Bradsher from Hong Kong; Michael R. Gordon from New Delhi; and Rick Gladstone from New York.

Peter Baker reported from Washington and Rick Gladstone from New York. Reporting was contributed by David M. Herszenhorn, Ellen Barry and Andrew Roth from Moscow; Scott Shane, Steven Lee Myers and Charlie Savage from Washington; Keith Bradsher from Hong Kong; and Michael R. Gordon from New Delhi.