Whistleblower Snowden makes over 20 asylum requests

American fugitive Edward Snowden has applied for asylum in over 20 countries around the world, according to reports.

Currently in limbo after his passport was confiscated, Snowden has been unable to travel without approval of asylum. As a result, the fugitive remains in the transit lounge of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport until one of his asylum requests is approved.

The former contractor for the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) had planned to travel to Ecuador via Cuba however, without approved asylum he is effectively “stuck” in Moscow.

Snowden has rejected the Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin’s conditional asylum that sought to offer him asylum on the condition that he stopped leaking confidential information. Snowden has since applied for asylum in countries including India, France, Norway, Poland, Brazil and Ireland.

At present, seven European countries have denied Snowden asylum on the grounds that applications can only be made once on European soil. India and Brazil have also denied him asylum narrowing his options to a few South American countries. Venezuela and Bolivia are amongst those that could still offer him asylum.

Snowden used Wikileaks to broadcast his suspicions that president Barack Obama is putting pressure on the countries he had applied to for asylum. This accusation has come at a time when Ecuador –  who only a few days ago stated that it will not be “bullied” into submission – has renounced its consideration of Snowden’s asylum application.

It is not clear where Snowden plans to travel to next.

Hiba Khan