Snowden: Human Rights and Global Information Security!

On July 12 fugitive whistle-blower Edward Snowden held a meeting with human rights representatives in the transit area of Moscow airport. Snowden told a small group of activists that he was reinstating a claim for asylum in Russia and asked for their support. In order to be guaranteed safety in Russia, the only way for him to go is to file a formal asylum pleas. According to Russian law, there are provisions to be met, before the asylum could be granted. First, it applies to a person who seeks shelter and protection from persecution, or faces a real threat of being persecuted in the country of citizenship or residence for social and political activities or convictions. Second, the activities and convictions should not contradict democratic principles and world wide recognized international norms. Finally, a person asking for asylum should be an immediate object of persecution. Prima facie all the conditions are evidently met in the given case. The US persecutes Snowden for the efforts to attract the world public attention to the mass human rights violations that is social and political activities and convictions. The views expounded by Snowden do not contradict democratic principles and international legal norms, he makes clear his support for democracy and law. The case has entailed a string of human rights violations, so the Snowden's activities are aimed at protection of international law making the world community a party which has an interest in the outcome of proceedings. At international level, article 12 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honor and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks. It's also expedient to recall the article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) that guarantees individual liberty stating: No one shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on his honor and reputation. Everyone has the right to protection of the law against such interference or attacks. Talking about Snowden himself, there is an outright violation of article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which protects the individual freedom of movement, Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country. The article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights says, Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention.