The narrowly passed measure called on member states to protect the whistleblower from prosecution, which he sees as ‘a chance to move forward’

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

Edward Snowden on Thursday hailed as “extraordinary” and a “game-changer” a vote in the European parliament calling on member states to prevent his extradition to the US.

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The parliament voted 285-281 to pass a largely symbolic measure, a resolution that called on European Union member states to “drop any criminal charges against Edward Snowden, grant him protection and consequently prevent extradition or rendition by third parties, in recognition of his status as whistleblower and international human rights defender”.

Snowden has lived in exile in Russia since revealing secret US government surveillance programs in June 2013.

The European parliament is a directly elected legislature with members from all 28 EU member states. Its legislative authority is limited. The resolution amounted to a request that member states reject attempts by the US to arrest and prosecute Snowden.

“This is not a blow against the US government, but an open hand extended by friends,” Snowden tweeted. “It is a chance to move forward.”



Edward Snowden (@Snowden) 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

The US government did not, however, seem to see it that way.

“Our position has not changed,” Ned Price, spokesperson for the National Security Council, said in a statement emailed to the Guardian. “Mr Snowden is accused of leaking classified information and faces felony charges here in the United States. As such, he should be returned to the US as soon as possible, where he will be accorded full due process.”

While the US has promised Snowden due process, it has charged him under the Espionage Act of 1917, which forbids the disclosure of state secrets and which would not allow Snowden to argue in his defense that his disclosures had a public benefit.

“We welcome today’s decision of the European parliament recognizing Edward Snowden as a human rights defender and calling upon member states to grant him protection from prosecution,” Wolfgang Kaleck, Snowden’s lawyer in Berlin, said in an email.



“It is an overdue step and we urge the member states to act now to implement the resolution.”

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In its legislative action on Thursday, the parliament also called for new assurances that data transfers to the US are subject to an “effective level of protection” and raised concerns about “recent laws in some member states” – including France, the UK and the Netherlands – “that extend surveillance capabilities of intelligence bodies”.

The vote came as a federal appeals court allowed a delay in the mothballing of a dragnet domestic surveillance program first exposed by Snowden.



The second US circuit court of appeals ruled on Thursday to permit a 180-day “orderly transition” period until the NSA would be required to cease the warrantless bulk collection of telephone metadata in the United States.