Edward Snowden's lawyers are seeking a safe passage to Norway for the infamous NSA whistleblower—who may go to Oslo in person later this year to collect a prestigious freedom of speech award.

A lawsuit has been filed in the country by the Norwegian chapter of the international writers' association PEN, and Advokatfirmaet Schjødt attorneys acting on behalf of Snowden, after he was awarded the Ossietzky Prize for 2016. PEN hopes that Snowden can attend the ceremony in November. However, such a trip could lead to Snowden's extradition to the US, where he faces conviction under the Espionage Act, and decades of imprisonment.

Advokatfirmaet Schjødt petitioned Oslo City Court arguing that extraditing Snowden to the US would breach local and international law.

"A prosecution against Snowden under the US Espionage Act constitutes a political offence," Norwegian PEN said, before adding: "Accordingly, the lawsuit asserts that extradition of Edward Snowden would be contrary to law, and that the court should so declare."

Snowden was awarded this year's Ossietzky Prize for his contribution to defend freedom of expression.

"With this year’s Ossietzky Prize, Norwegian PEN wants to highlight that surveillance may only be carried out within the framework of internationally accepted legal standards for the protection of individual civil liberties," Norwegian PEN said.

"By awarding the prize to Edward Snowden, Norwegian PEN wish to pay respect to the unique role he has undertaken as a whistleblower."

In 2015, Snowden won a similar award in Norway—the Bjørnson Prize. On that occasion, the former NSA contractor didn't attend the ceremony in person due to the possibility of extradition, and instead made an appearance via a video link.