US whistleblower comes to Putin’s Russia

Former US intelligence technician Edward Snowden left Hong Kong and reached Moscow and will head to a third destination, the South China Morning Post reported on Sunday.

‘US whistleblower Edward Snowden has left Hong Kong on an Aeroflot flight to Moscow, credible sources have confirmed to the South China Morning Post,’ the newspaper, which has carried exclusive interviews with Snowden in Hong Kong, said in a brief report on its website.

‘Moscow will not be his final destination,’ it said, raising the possibility of Iceland or Ecuador as Snowden’s final destination.

The Hong Kong government confirmed that Snowden had left ‘legally’.

Edward Snowden departed Hong Kong on Sunday through ‘legal’ means, the local government confirmed. 

‘Snowden voluntarily left Hong Kong for a third country through legal and normal means,’ a Hong Kong government spokesman said in a press statement. 

The statement added that Hong Kong had ‘not obtained adequate information’ to handle a provisional arrest warrant for Snowden issued by the United States. 

Snowden flew out of Hong Kong on Sunday morning on board AeroflotSU213 flight, the SCMP said. The flight landed at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport at approximately 5.05pm (1305 GMT), according to the airline’s website.

His reported departure came despite a US arrest warrant and extradition request to authorities in Hong Kong, where the former contractor with the National Security Agency came on 20 May. Itar-Tass cited its source as saying Snowden would fly from Havana to the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. 

The Russian foreign ministry said it was looking into the situation and confirmed Snowden may be planning to travel through Moscow as a transit passenger en route to another 

destination.