A WikiLeaks-linked Icelandic businessman claims to have prepared a private jet to bring NSA leaker Edward Snowden to the country if his asylum request is approved. The whistleblower, who is wanted in the US, reportedly remains in Hong Kong.
"A private jet is in place in China and we could fly Snowden
over tomorrow if we get positive reaction from the Interior
Ministry. We need to get confirmation of asylum and that he will
not be extradited to the US. We would most want him to get a
citizenship as well," Reuters quoted Icelandic
businessman Olafur Vignir Sigurvinsson as saying.
Sigurvinsson – the former head of DataCell, a company that
handles donations for WikiLeaks – said that a Gulfstream G550 jet
has been chartered for Snowden at a cost of more than $240,000
thanks to individual contributions received by his company.
He added that other means of transport had been arranged for
Snowden as a backup, but the jet is the preferred mode of
transport: "We need to play it as it comes, so we are
basically ready for anything. We might need to go by boat for a
bit, cars and planes will be involved."
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said Wednesday he has been
“in touch with Mr. Snowden's legal team,” and they are
working on “the process of brokering his asylum in
Iceland."
Snowden reportedly requested asylum in the Nordic island-nation
earlier this week through WikiLeaks spokesperson Kristinn
Hrafnsson. The Icelandic government confirmed they had received
Snowden’s appeal, but no decision has been made yet.
Icelandic Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson confirmed
there had been “informal talks” between his government and
Hrafnsson to sound out the possibility of the country granting
Snowden asylum. The PM declined to comment further on the matter.
"To apply for asylum in Iceland, the individual in question must
be present in Iceland and make the application in his or her own
name," an Interior Ministry spokesperson said. As a US
citizen, Snowden is free to enter Iceland without a visa and can
immediately apply for asylum. However, the US may move to arrest
him before Icelandic immigration authorities decide his case. The
asylum process could ultimately take more than a year, Reuters
reported.
The Ministry’s spokesperson was reluctant to comment on whether
Iceland would grant asylum or citizenship should Snowden arrive.
The US has also not yet filed a formal request for his
extradition from Hong Kong, where Snowden fled from Hawaii
shortly before his disclosure of the NSA’s surveillance
activities.
Snowden said he did not travel immediately to Iceland – a country
known for promoting Internet freedom – as he feared the country
could be “pushed harder, quicker” by Washington. The
asylum process could ultimately take more than a year, Reuters
reported.
“Iceland could be pushed harder, quicker, before the public
could have a chance to make their feelings known, and I would not
put that past the current US administration,” Snowden said in
an online Q&A with the Guardian.