It’s hard for me to say what his actions would be in terms of a positive decision (on the asylum request).
We must understand that security is the number one issue in his case.
I think the process of adaptation will take some time. It’s an understandable process as he doesn’t know the Russian language, our customs, and our laws.
He’s planning to arrange his life here. He plans to get a job. And, I think, that all his further decisions will be made considering the situation he found himself in.
He fears for his health and his life. He's afraid that if he'll be handed to the US, torture can be used against him down to death penalty.
He intends to do so. During our meeting, our dialogues, and our consultations, he made detailed inquiries on those procedures. And I informed him of what possibilities he has according to Russian law.
The Federal Migration Service has not commented the information alleging the issue of a certificate to former CIA employee Edward Snowden enabling him to stay in Russia.
Earlier, lawyer Anatoly Kucherena did not rule out that Snowden could leave the transit zone of the Sheremetyevo airport on July 24, which is the deadline for review of the documents submitted by Snowden to the Federal Migration Service a week ago.
The certificate in question grants the right to stay in Russia for the period of consideration of his request for temporary asylum.
'We don't comment this information,' an FMS official told Itar-Tass. The decision on granting temporary asylum to Snowden should be made within three months from the application date.
The procedure of submitting the application includes an interview, filling a form, fingerprinting and mandatory medical check.
IPB believes that among the very highest moral duties of a citizen is to make known war crimes and crimes against humanity.
This is within the broad meaning of the Nuremberg Principles enunciated at the end of the Second World War.
When Manning revealed to the world the crimes being committed by the US military he did so as an act of obedience to this high moral duty.
It is for this reason too that Manning has also been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
In more general terms, it is well known that war operations, and especially illegal ones, are frequently conducted under the cover of secrecy.
To penetrate this wall of secrecy by revealing information that should be accessible to all is an important contribution to the struggle against war, and acts as a challenge to the military system which dominates both the economy and society in today’s world.
IPB believes that whistleblowers are vital in upholding democracies - especially in the area of defense and security.
A heavy sentence for Manning would not only be unjust but would also have very negative effects on the right to freedom of expression which the US claims to uphold.
I have chosen to nominate US Army Pfc Bradley Manning, for I can think of no one more deserving.
His incredible disclosure of secret documents to Wikileaks helped end the Iraq War, and may have helped prevent further conflicts elsewhere.
