This just out a few minutes ago, as reported by the South China Morning Post:
US whistleblower Edward Snowden has left Hong Kong on an Aeroflot flight to Moscow, credible sources have confirmed to the South China Morning Post.
More to follow...
Nothing else yet. Interesting twist, to say the least. If confirmed, it would appear to dramatically alter the political
calculus about extradition. It's not difficult to foresee that this will be used as an excuse to further vilify Snowden, and more importantly, to deflect serious and needed discussion of the surveillance state.
1:17 AM PT: New update out from SCMP (emphasis is mine):
US whistle-blower Edward Snowden has left Hong Kong and is on a commercial flight to Russia but this will not be his final destination, the South China Morning Post can confirm.
1:33 AM PT: Now, more from SCMP:
US whistle-blower Edward Snowden has left Hong Kong on a commercial flight to Russia but Moscow will not be his final destination. The Hong Kong government said it had notified the US government about the departure.
Hong Kong also confirms Snowden had departed "on his own accord for a third country through a lawful and normal channel"
I would also point out the number of additional articles right below this on the SCMP page pointing to new revelations about the breadth of the NSA spying internationally. I note the rather unsparing comments below calling Snowden a traitor. Perhaps a review of the top Rec List diary about
international outrage -- not over Snowden, but about what we have been revealed to be doing -- might give some pause about the real source of damage to our nation and its reputation.
11:51 AM PT: Thanks to Jed Lewison for his FP update and h/t to this diary. His story includes more complete, updated news from The Guardian.
I appreciate the brief stay on the Rec List. The story is obviously no longer breaking, and I'd especially commend the newer diaries by Lisa Lockwood, Icelandic MP Birgitta Jonsdottir on Snowden's assylum chances, and The Troubador, Hong Kong's Incredible Official Statement on Snowden.
/updates for this diary. Thanks for reading and contributing to the rather lively discussion.