14 DAY TRIAL // Edward Snowden’s safe stay in Russia is getting close to an end and a campaign has been launched to ask for protection for whistleblowers like Edward Snowden.
“Stand with Snowden” was launched yesterday and Snowden himself made a video appearance at the event, saying that it was up to the people to protect those who told the truth in the world and whom governments sought to keep quiet.
The Courage Foundation launched the campaign in Berlin and aims, on top of helping all whistleblowers, to find Snowden a new home since his temporary asylum in Russia is coming to an end on July 31.
“Edward Snowden’s one-year period of asylum in Russia ends on 31 July 2014 and it has never been more important to demonstrate the support he has worldwide. Showing that you Stand With Snowden is easy. Upload a photo of yourself or your friends, family, and colleagues holding a sign like the ones you can see below. Make sure you mention where you’re from: Courage will formally approach the governments of those countries where the public support for Snowden is strongest to ask them to act,” reads the page dedicated to the effort.
There aren’t that many pictures on the page so far, but the number is growing quickly. Among those that have already expressed their support, there are Glenn Greenwald, the journalist who broke the story, and Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks leader who is currently stranded in the Ecuadorean embassy in London.
The fact that the Courage Foundation stands by whistleblowers should come as no surprise since part of its advisory board is made up of whistleblowers who worked for government spy agencies, such as the NSA, CIA or MI5, including Daniel Ellsberg, Thomas Drake, and Annie Machon.
Edward Snowden can request to expand his asylum in Russia. According to asylum legislation, if an asylee’s situation doesn’t change, the temporary asylum can be prolonged. Since Edward Snowden continues to be in the same situation he was a year ago, chances are very high for him to be able to remain in Russia.
However, he’s expressed his desire to move to another country on several occasions and some lawmakers across the world have expressed their interest to make this possible, although no formal decisions were made.
Most lawmakers are concerned, however, about the diplomatic relationship that their countries have with the United States and the effect that helping Snowden would have on it.