Updated: US ambassador to Russia disputes claim sent message to Snowden [View all]

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Last edited Fri Jul 12, 2013, 12:12 PM - Edit history (1)

Ryan Lizza of the New Yorker is reporting that Michael McFaul, the US ambassador to Russia, called a member of the human rights delegation today and asked her to pass on to the message to Snowden that he is not a whistleblower.

Ryan Lizza @RyanLizza

US amb. to Russia @McFaul reportedly called member of human rights delegation, asked her to relay to Snowden that he isn't a whistleblower.
11:04 AM - 12 Jul 2013

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I’ve asked McFaul and Tanya Lokshina of Human Rights Watch, the only woman among the human rights representatives at the meeting, if this is true.

Tany Lokshina has confirmed that the US embassy called her before the meeting to ask her to pass on to Snowden the message that he was not a whistleblower.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/12/edward-snowden-to-meet-amnesty-and-human-rights-watch-at-moscow-airport-live-coverag#block-51e01f46e4b0d557cc000973

Updated to add:

Michael McFaul, the US ambassador to Russia, has contacted the New Yorker to deny previous reports that he had sought to convey a message to Snowden that Snowden is not a 'whistleblower.'

McFaul's account directly contradicts a description of the Snowden meeting published by Wikileaks:

The Human Rights Watch representative used this opportunity to tell Mr Snowden that on her way to the airport she had received a call from the US Ambassador to Russia, who asked her to relay to Mr Snowden that the US Government does not categorise Mr Snowden as a whistleblower and that he has broken United States law. This further proves the United States Government’s persecution of Mr Snowden and therefore that his right to seek and accept asylum should be upheld.

Ryan Lizza @RyanLizza

BREAKING: @McFaul has emailed New Yorker, says he DID NOT contact human rights rep who met Snowden, as reported here: http://bit.ly/12lJSI3
11:56 AM - 12 Jul 2013

4 Retweets 1 favorite

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/12/edward-snowden-to-meet-amnesty-and-human-rights-watch-at-moscow-airport-live-coverag