Norway’s supreme court rejects Edward Snowden extradition lawsuit

World Today

edward-snowden-reutersEdward Snowden speaks via video link during a conference at University of Buenos Aires Law School, Argentina, November 14, 2016. (REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci)

Norway’s supreme court has rejected a lawsuit from fugitive former U.S. spy contractor Edward Snowden against the Norwegian government, upholding the verdict of two lower courts, it said on Friday.

Snowden’s law firm said in April he would take the state to court to secure free passage to the Nordic country to receive a free speech award. Both the Oslo District Court and an appeals court have since dismissed the case.

The Norwegian justice ministry could not be compelled to issue an advance decision on whether or not to extradite Snowden to the United States if he were to come to Norway, the supreme court said.

Snowden, a former National Security Agency contractor who leaked details about the U.S. government’s massive surveillance programs, was granted asylum in Russia, which borders Norway, after fleeing the United States in 2013.

Supporters see him as a whistle blower who boldly exposed government excess. But the U.S. government has filed espionage charges against him for leaking intelligence information.

Snowden had been invited to Norway to receive an award from the local branch of writers’ group PEN International, but worried that he would be handed over to the United States, his lawyers have said.


Story by Reuters.