Hello. My name is Ed Snowden. A little over one month ago, I had family, a home in paradise, and I lived in great comfort.
I also had the capability without any warrant to search for, seize, and read your communications.
Anyone’s communications at any time. That is the power to change people’s fates.
(M)y government argues that secret court rulings, which the world is not permitted to see, somehow legitimize an illegal affair.
These rulings simply corrupt the most basic notion of justice - that it must be seen to be done. The immoral cannot be made moral through the use of secret law.
These nations, including Russia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Ecuador have my gratitude and respect for being the first to stand against human rights violations carried out by the powerful rather than the powerless.
By refusing to compromise their principles in the face of intimidation, they have earned the respect of the world. It is my intention to travel to each of these countries to extend my personal thanks to their people and leaders.
I announce today my formal acceptance of all offers of support or asylum I have been extended and all others that may be offered in the future.
With, for example, the grant of asylum provided by Venezuela’s President Maduro, my asylee status is now formal, and no state has a basis by which to limit or interfere with my right to enjoy that asylum.
This willingness by powerful states to act extra-legally represents a threat to all of us, and must not be allowed to succeed.
Accordingly, I ask for your assistance in requesting guarantees of safe passage from the relevant nations in securing my travel to Latin America, as well as requesting asylum in Russia until such time as these states accede to law and my legal travel is permitted.
I will be submitting my request to Russia today, and hope it will be accepted favorably.
Our position on Mr. Snowden and the felony charges against him, and our belief that he ought to be returned to the United States to face those felony charges is as it was.
And we have communicated it to a variety of countries, including Russia.
So it’s no different than it was. And I would simply say that providing a propaganda platform for Mr. Snowden runs counter to the Russian government's previous declarations of Russia's neutrality and that they have no control over his presence in the airport.
It's also incompatible with Russian assurances that they do not want Mr. Snowden to further damage US interests.
You don't think he should have a forum? Has he forfeited his right to freedom of speech as well?
(I) didn't didn't realize people who were wanted on charges forfeited their right to speech - to free speech.
I also didn't realize that people who were not whistleblowers or not human rights activists, as you say he is not, that they forfeited their rights to speak, so I don't understand why you're disappointed with the Russians.
Not that I'm aware of, Matt.
I don't have any readouts of these calls.
It gives us a chance, I think, from drawing back from the total surveillance state that we could say we're in process of becoming. I'm afraid we have become. That's what he’s revealed.