Snowden thread

[politicus]

Thought we might as well have one overall thread.

Putin has said Snowden can leave the airport and stay in Russia if he doesn't leak more material that will damage "Our American partner".

FBI and FSB official are, apparently, working out some deal.
http://english.ruvr.ru/news/2013_07_01/Putin-Obama-have-ordered-FSB-FBI-chiefs-to-find-a-solution-over-Snowden-official-7096/

[politicus]

Meanwhile, Bolivia "declared war" on Austria, France, Italy, Portugal and the US of course.

They "declared war on us" because we searched their plane for Snowden (which of course is understandable and a necessary check, considering that a guy who could impact relations with the US might come here) and Morales actually agreed that the plane is searched:

(Reuters) - Bolivia accused Austria of an act of aggression by searching President Evo Morales' plane on Wednesday and blamed Washington for its forced landing in Vienna over suspicions that former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden was on board.

Austria is not a US ally, and you could have said no. It was convenient, but hardly necessary to be so compliant.

[politicus]

As a curiosity Birgitta Jonsdottir, chairman of the Left Greens, tried to get the Icelandic parliament to grant Snowden Icelandic citizenship, but the speaker denied her request to put the motion on the agenda before the summer break - Althinget doesn't reconvene until 10/9. Anyway with the present centre-right governmet this was always a no-go.

[politicus]

Maduro has now declared Venezuela is willing to give Snowden asylum.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/venezuela/10163819/President-Nicolas-Maduro-offers-Edward-Snowden-asylum.html