Ecuadorian Foreign Minister would analyse Edward Snowden asylum request

Ricardo Patino talks Snowden asylum request

Ricardo Patino, Ecuador’s foreign minister, said yesterday, Sunday, that Edward Snowden, a former analyst of the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States (CIA), who is accused of cyber espionage for Washington, sought asylum in Ecuador.

On Monday, Ecuador’s foreign minister said from Haoni, Vietnam, Ecuador’s government is considering the written request for asylum presented by Edward Snowden.

“The government of Ecuador has received an asylum request from Edward Snowden,” said Patino through his Twitter account.

The analysis of asylum would be based on the principles enshrined in the Constitution and on the international humanitarian law and customary. Patino added that there are international standards in the principles, but to Ecuador humanitarian principles come first.

During the press conference in Haoni, Patino said Snowden has arrived to Russia and Ecuador’s government maintains diplomatic and respectful contact with that government. Finally Patino stressed that the request of Snowden was made specifically for the regime leader, Rafael Correa.

Snowden, a former official of the CIA, is accused by the United States to disclose secret espionage programs. Initially he made his disclosures to the media in the United States and England from Hong Kong, from where he left yesterday on a trip to Russia.