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The European Parliament has called on EU member states to drop all criminal charges against Edward Snowden and protect him against extradition to the United States.

MEPs voted 285 votes to 281 in favour of a resolution that the NSA whistleblower should be allowed to seek safe asylum in the EU.


In order to see this embed, you must give consent to Social Media cookies. Open my cookie preferences. This is not a blow against the US Government, but an open hand extended by friends. It is a chance to move forward. pic.twitter.com/fBs5H32wyD — Edward Snowden (@Snowden) October 29, 2015

The resolution, which isn't binding, is nonetheless a strong signal from MEP's that EU member states should grant Snowden protection. MEPs voting in favour of the measures described Snowden as a "human rights defender" and urged member states to "drop any criminal charges" against him.

Member states should "grant him protection and consequently prevent extradition or rendition by third parties, in recognition of his status as whistle-blower and international human rights defender", according to MEPs who votes in favour. All EU member states have existing extradition treaties with the United States and it remains to be seen if any nation would be willing to waive such an agreement.


Wolfgang Kaleck, Snowden's lawyer in Berlin, said his client welcomed the move. "It is an overdue step and we urge the member States to act now to implement the resolution," he wrote in an email to the Daily Dot.

On Twitter, Snowden said the vote was a "game-changer". "This is not a blow against the US Government, but an open hand extended by friends. It is a chance to move forward," he tweeted.

The former NSA contractor has been living in exile in Moscow since June 2013, having fled there from Hong Kong.