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Edward Snowden: 'I wasn’t supposed to stay in Russia'

The former NSA contractor admitted that he initially wanted to go to Europe, but all the diplomats he spoke to discouraged him and gave him no guarantees

NEW YORK, June 7. /TASS/. Former US National Security Agency (NSA) employee and whistleblower Edward Snowden said that, unlike Russia, other countries could not guarantee him safe political asylum.

"Basically, I wasn’t supposed to stay in Russia; it was a transit route, a transit stop on route to Latin America because of the openness that South America has shown for whistleblowers (those who reveal secret data of Western governments - TASS) in the past, particularly in the case of Julian Assange," Snowden told independent journalist Glenn Greenwald in an interview published on the Rumble video platform. "My identity was going to be revealed, and it was very likely I would no longer be able to travel onwards. So, immediately, we [decided that] I have to get out to a safe place of asylum, this is going to be Latin America. We had contacts, we had assurances [that] this would probably be our best bet."

The former NSA contractor admitted that he initially wanted to go to Europe, but all the diplomats he spoke to discouraged him and gave him no guarantees. "But as soon as I left China, it was leaked and the US government [found out] while I’m in the air with no communications. <...> I landed in Russia, and the border guard said: ‘Your passport doesn’t work.’" Snowden said that he spent 40 days in the Sheremetyevo airport transit zone, applying for asylum in 21 countries. According to him, a number of countries admitted that they were afraid of the US reaction and did not want to get involved in such a situation. "Small countries that were actually willing to say, ‘We would do this, but we don’t believe we can actually protect you because of the US practice of <…> kidnapping,'" Snowden added.

"At that point, I was out of options; I applied for asylum in Russia, and I was granted it. And actually, I’ve been left alone quite remarkably since then, which is really all that I could ask for in those circumstances," he revealed.

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Additionally, Russian units eliminated one munitions depot

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Nicosia reportedly asked to buy some military equipment from Washington as part of a three or five-year agreement, and sought help in bringing Cyprus’ military capabilities to NATO standards

UK mercenary taken prisoner in Russia’s Kursk area — source

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The Turkish side will also provide information on the progress of the investigation

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According to the politician, Western nations need to understand that they are fighting on Ukraine’s side

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Russian troops mopping up enemy positions in Yelizavetovka in Donbass region — politician

On November 20, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported the liberation of Ilyinka in the DPR

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The leaders also discussed some international issues

Russian forces pound Ukrainian military airfields, energy sites over day — top brass

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Russia’s Permanent Representative to the Vienna-based international organizations Mikhail Ulyanov said that what has been done by the White House is very dangerous

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Restrictions under New START treaty don’t apply to Oreshnik missile — Russian diplomat

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Twelve local residents have been evacuated from the scene

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The Ynet news website reported earlier that Israel had given a preliminary green light to a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, subject to final approval by the cabinet

Europe unable to wage war attrition on Russia — Ukraine’s ex-commander-in-chief

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Sergey Ryabkov stressed that "any escalation scenarios, if they start to materialize, will be a direct consequence of the reckless" and "inhumane policy that is pursued by Washington and leading European countries"

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The Ukrainian armed forces used various modified Western-made mines and improvised explosive devices during the process

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The statement’s authors stressed that blowing up the Nord Stream pipelines was not aimed at Russia alone but "above all, was directed against Germany, its interests, and economy"

British military instructor captured, Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

In total, the enemy has lost more than 35,510 troops since the fighting began in the region

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Russia’s Sukhoi jet catches fire while landing in Turkey

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Developments in Russia’s Kursk Region: Counselling for residents, enemy’s losses

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Trump ‘incredibly concerned’ about escalation in Ukraine, his NSA pick Waltz says

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Europe resumes talks of troop deployment to Ukraine — newspaper

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Guterres condemns supply of anti-personnel landmines to Ukraine

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Lukashenko tells Putin situation is "starting to get tense with Wagner"

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Russia may soon push Kiev troops out of Kursk Region — Ukrainian battalion commander

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Senior envoy sees Putin’s statement as signal of Russia’s readiness for military responses

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Ukrainian officer says 90% of fellow servicemen have no desire to fight

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Kremlin doesn’t see Trump’s future term through ‘rose-colored glasses’ — spokesman

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Citizens of Poland, Germany, Italy apply for residence permit in Lugansk Republic

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