SoylentNews

Koen [soylentnews.org] writes:

BRUSSELS — The European Parliament narrowly (285 vs 281 votes) adopted [nytimes.com] a nonbinding but nonetheless forceful resolution [europa.eu] on Thursday urging the 28 nations of the European Union to recognize Edward J. Snowden as a “whistle-blower and international human rights defender” and to shield him from prosecution.

On Twitter [twitter.com], Mr. Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who leaked millions of documents about electronic surveillance by the American government, called the vote a “game-changer.”

But the resolution has no legal force and limited practical effect for Mr. Snowden, who is living in Russia on a three-year residency permit. Whether to grant Mr. Snowden asylum remains a decision for the individual European governments, and thus far, none have done so.

Original Submission