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1.6 MB
Extraction Summary
4
People
5
Organizations
5
Locations
3
Events
2
Relationships
3
Quotes
Document Information
Type:
Book page / investigative evidence
File Size:
1.6 MB
Summary
This document appears to be page 107 from a book (likely by Edward Jay Epstein given the filename 'Epst...') discussing Edward Snowden's flight from Hong Kong to Russia. It details the timeline of Snowden's interactions with Russian officials, his interview with Lana Lam, and the diplomatic maneuvers between the US, Russia, and China surrounding his departure on Aeroflot Flight SU213. The text analyzes whether Snowden had pre-arranged contact with Russia before his public statements.
People (4)
| Name | Role | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Edward Snowden | Subject/Fugitive |
Former contractor seeking asylum, fleeing from Hong Kong to Russia.
|
| Lana Lam | Interviewer |
Interviewed Snowden on June 12, 2013 regarding his asylum requests.
|
| Vladimir Putin | President of Russia |
Involved in the decision-making process to allow Snowden into Russia; described Snowden as an 'agent of the special s...
|
| Barton Gellman | Journalist/Contact |
Referenced as 'Gellman'; Snowden told him on May 24 he needed help dealing with a diplomatic mission.
|
Organizations (5)
| Name | Type | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Russian Government |
Provided asylum/assistance to Snowden.
|
|
| Obama Administration |
Threatened reprisals against Russia.
|
|
| Aeroflot |
Operated the flight Snowden took to Moscow.
|
|
| Interpol |
Alerted by the US regarding the criminal complaint against Snowden.
|
|
| Hong Kong Authorities |
Likely acquiesced to China's request to let Snowden leave.
|
Timeline (3 events)
June 21, 2013
Snowden allegedly goes to the Russian consulate; US unseals criminal complaint.
Hong Kong
Locations (5)
| Location | Context |
|---|---|
|
Location where Snowden was hiding and departed from.
|
|
|
Destination of Snowden's flight and asylum provider.
|
|
|
Specific destination in Russia.
|
|
|
Located in Hong Kong; Snowden allegedly visited on June 21.
|
|
|
Hong Kong Airport
|
Location of passport control passage.
|
Relationships (2)
Putin approved the decision to facilitate Snowden's escape to Russia.
Lam interviewed Snowden in Hong Kong.
Key Quotes (3)
"My only comment is that I am glad there are governments that refuse to be intimidated by great power."Source
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Quote #1
"If Putin’s own description of Snowden’s interactions with the Russians in Hong Kong is to be believed, the decision to facilitate Snowden’s escape to Russia had been kicked all the way up the Russian chain of command to Putin."Source
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Quote #2
"Putin said an American 'agent of the special services' had contacted Russian diplomats because he wanted assistance."Source
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Quote #3
Full Extracted Text
Complete text extracted from the document (2,371 characters)
Fugitive | 107
tacts with Russia while still in Hong Kong. When Lana Lam asked
Snowden on June 12, 2013, whether he had already requested asy-
lum from the Russian government, he deferred, saying, “My only
comment is that I am glad there are governments that refuse to be
intimidated by great power.” The Russian government was clearly
not intimidated by the threats of reprisals by the United States, as
the Obama administration would learn after Snowden’s arrival in
Russia on June 23. Snowden could only have known that with cer-
tainty on June 12 if he had been in contact with Russian officials
prior to his interview with Lam.
Snowden on June 12, 2013, whether he had already requested asy-
lum from the Russian government, he deferred, saying, “My only
comment is that I am glad there are governments that refuse to be
intimidated by great power.” The Russian government was clearly
not intimidated by the threats of reprisals by the United States, as
the Obama administration would learn after Snowden’s arrival in
Russia on June 23. Snowden could only have known that with cer-
tainty on June 12 if he had been in contact with Russian officials
prior to his interview with Lam.
If Putin’s own description of Snowden’s interactions with the
Russians in Hong Kong is to be believed, the decision to facilitate
Snowden’s escape to Russia had been kicked all the way up the Rus-
sian chain of command to Putin. Presumably, this decision-making
process began earlier than June 21, when Snowden was said to have
gone to the consulate. But how much earlier? Because Snowden had
arrived in Hong Kong on May 20, his contacts with Russian offi-
cials could have occurred in May. Such a contact with the Russians
would fit with Snowden’s telling Gellman on May 24 that he needed
his help in dealing with the diplomatic mission of a country that
Snowden did not identify.
Russians in Hong Kong is to be believed, the decision to facilitate
Snowden’s escape to Russia had been kicked all the way up the Rus-
sian chain of command to Putin. Presumably, this decision-making
process began earlier than June 21, when Snowden was said to have
gone to the consulate. But how much earlier? Because Snowden had
arrived in Hong Kong on May 20, his contacts with Russian offi-
cials could have occurred in May. Such a contact with the Russians
would fit with Snowden’s telling Gellman on May 24 that he needed
his help in dealing with the diplomatic mission of a country that
Snowden did not identify.
In any case, Putin said an American “agent of the special services”
had contacted Russian diplomats because he wanted assistance. The
agent, Snowden, of course, needed assistance to escape from Hong
Kong. The decision to accept him in Russia, given the international
ramifications, would have to be made at a much higher level than the
Russian mission in Hong Kong.
had contacted Russian diplomats because he wanted assistance. The
agent, Snowden, of course, needed assistance to escape from Hong
Kong. The decision to accept him in Russia, given the international
ramifications, would have to be made at a much higher level than the
Russian mission in Hong Kong.
Nine days before Snowden boarded Aeroflot Flight SU213 to
Moscow on June 23, the United States had filed a criminal complaint
against him. It had also officially alerted Interpol when it unsealed
the complaint on June 21. It had invalidated his U.S. passport except
to return to America (although he still had it in his possession at
the Hong Kong airport). Because by this time he was the most
famous visitor in Hong Kong, his passage through passport control
on June 23 might have reflected the acquiescence of the Hong Kong
authorities to the reported request of China to be rid of Snowden by
that date.
Moscow on June 23, the United States had filed a criminal complaint
against him. It had also officially alerted Interpol when it unsealed
the complaint on June 21. It had invalidated his U.S. passport except
to return to America (although he still had it in his possession at
the Hong Kong airport). Because by this time he was the most
famous visitor in Hong Kong, his passage through passport control
on June 23 might have reflected the acquiescence of the Hong Kong
authorities to the reported request of China to be rid of Snowden by
that date.
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9/29/16 5:51 PM
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9/29/16 5:51 PM
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