An aircraft carrying Edward Snowden landed in Moscow on Sunday after Hong Kong allowed the fugitive former American security contractor leave the territory, frustrating Washington’s efforts to extradite him on espionage charges. WikiLeaks said on Sunday Snowden was heading for a “democratic nation” that it didn’t name, though a source at Aeroflot, the Russian airline, said he would fly on in 24 hours to Cuba and then to Venezuela.
Snowden’s departure from Hong Kong will be highly embarrassing for the Obama administration. The US authorities had said on Saturday they were optimistic Hong Kong would cooperate over Snowden.
Moscow airport officials said the Hong Kong flight had landed but could not immediately confirm Snowden was on board. But an Aeroflot source said he had booked a seat.
In a statement, the Hong Kong authorities said they were seeking a US clarification on reports of US spying on government computers in the territory. A Hong Kong spokesman said it had allowed Snowden to leave as the US request to have him arrested did not comply with the law.
Meanwhile, Ecuadorean foreign minister Ricardo Patino tweeted: “The Government of Ecuador has received an asylum request from Edward J. #Snowden.”