Download
After the NSA whistle-blower lands in Moscow, the big question is: Where is he?
A plane took off from Moscow on Monday heading for Cuba, but the seat booked by US National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden was empty, and there was no sign of him onboard.
An Aeroflot representative who wouldn't give her name said that Snowden wasn't on flightSU150 to Havana. And reporters from The Associated Press on the flight couldn't find him.
The Interfax news agency also quoted an unidentified Russian security source in Moscow as saying that Snowden wasn't on the plane.
The airline said earlier Snowden registered for the flight using his US passport, which US officials say has been annulled.
Snowden arrived in Moscow on Sunday from Hong Kong, where he had been hiding for several weeks to evade US justice. Ecuador is considering Snowden's asylum application.
After spending a night in Moscow airport, Snowden had been expected to fly to Cuba and Venezuela en route to possible asylum in Ecuador.
The White House said on Monday that it expected the Russian government to send Snowden back to the US and lodged "strong objections" with Hong Kong and Beijing for letting him go.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying on Monday defended his government's decision to allow Snowden to leave the city.
Leung said he noted "expressions of displeasure" from some in the US, but told reporters that "the people of Hong Kong expect Hong Kong to uphold its own laws including the Basic Law".
Beijing on Monday backed Hong Kong's permission for Snowden's departure.
"Hong Kong is a society with rule of law. The central government always respects the local special administrative region government to follow the Basic Law and the principle of 'One Country, Two Systems'," Hua Chunying, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said during a regular news conference.
Meanwhile, a Russian official said on Monday that Washington has no right to demand Moscow arrest and extradite Snowden.
"The Americans can't demand anything. We can extradite him, or we can refuse to do that," Russian human rights ombudsman Vladimir Lukin told the Interfax news agency.
Snowden had been in hiding for several weeks in Hong Kong. The United States formally sought his extradition from Hong Kong to face espionage charges but was rebuffed. Hong Kong officials said the US request did not fully comply with their laws.
Washington was in touch through diplomatic and law enforcement channels with countries that he could travel through or to, reminding them that Snowden is wanted on criminal charges, and reiterating Washington's position that he should only be permitted to travel back to the US, a State Department official said.
Still, the United States is likely to have problems interrupting Snowden's passage. It does not have an extradition treaty with Russia, but does with Cuba, Venezuela and Ecuador. Even with an extradition agreement though, any country could give Snowden a political exemption.
The likelihood that any of these countries would stop Snowden from traveling on to Ecuador seemed remote. While diplomatic tensions have thawed in recent years, Cuba and the US are hardly allies after a half-century of distrust. Another country that could see Snowden pass through, Venezuela, could prove difficult, as well. Former president Hugo Chavez was a sworn enemy of the US and his successor, Nicolas Maduro, earlier this year called US President Barack Obama "grand chief of devils". The two countries do not exchange ambassadors.
Snowden's options aren't numerous, said lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, Michael Ratner.
"You have to have a country that's going to stand up to the United States," Ratner said. "You're not talking about a huge range of countries here."
It also wasn't clear if Snowden has finished disclosing highly classified information.
About the broadcaster:
Lance Crayon is a videographer and editor with China Daily. Since living in Beijing he has worked for China Radio International (CRI) and Global Times. Before moving to China he worked in the film industry in Los Angeles as a talent agent and producer. He has a B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Arlington.
体坛英语资讯:Jeff Horn awarded Australian sports top award after beating Manny Pacquaio
体坛英语资讯:Nene strike earns Vasco victory over Botafogo
国内英语资讯:Canton Fair attracts 25,000 exhibitors
国内英语资讯:Interview: Chinas Belt and Road Initiative could better foster economic integration: Chine
国际英语资讯:Three dead as Portugal suffers over 400 forest fires
国际英语资讯:Russia says IS left with just 8 percent of Syria
国内英语资讯:CPC Central Committee plenum makes full preparation for key congress
体坛英语资讯:Arena resigns as US coach after World Cup failure
蚂蚁金服与泰国开泰银行合作推广二维码支付
国内英语资讯:Afghan Pashto TV channel launches China-related news service
体坛英语资讯:Stefanidi, Vetter named European Athletes of the Year in Vilnius
体坛英语资讯:Spain line up Portugal and Russia friendlies to start World Cup preparations
国内英语资讯:China, U.S. work on clean energy cooperation at bilateral forum in Denver
京东和阿里巴巴恶战打响!奢侈品之争谁能赢?
国际英语资讯:U.S. magazine publisher offers 10 mln USD for info to help impeach Trump
去泰国海滩千万不要吸烟啦!
体坛英语资讯:Sivolap/Velichko rally past Virgen/Ontiveros to win first World Tour title in Qinzhou Open
双语盘点:党的十八大以来大国外交谱写新篇章
国际英语资讯:Austrian Peoples Party becomes strongest party in parliament: election projection
国际英语资讯:Foreigners continue to dump S. Korean stocks on geopolitical risks
以貌取人? 伊朗教育部门禁止丑人当老师!
国际英语资讯:Frances Macron defends controversial policy in first TV appearance
黑人秒变白人?多芬沐浴露典型是在搞事情!
美文赏析:人品才是最高的学历
美文赏析:努力,是一种生活态度
小戏骨版《红楼梦》演技炸裂,眼角眉梢都是戏,哪个萌娃最得你心?[1]
国际英语资讯:Harvey Weinstein expelled from Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
体坛英语资讯:Jeptoos coach cleared of doping charge
常见不可数名词的用法测验
体坛英语资讯:Federer takes fifth consecutive win over Nadal in Shanghai