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Snowden to move to Switzerland?

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  • 20-07-2014 9:28am
    #1
    Impetus
    Registered Users Posts: 1,667 ✭✭✭


    The US has been engaged in espionage activities in the Republic of Geneva, and a Swiss lawyer is negotiating with Snowden to come to Switzerland to testify against the US in a court case under Swiss law.

    This would allow Switzerland to protect Snowden against extradition to the US under the Swiss-USA extradition treaty. Sort of witness protection programme stuff basically.

    Switzerland would be a far more pleasant campsite for him than Moscow.

    http://www.nzz.ch/nzzas/nzz-am-sonntag/schweizer-anwalt-fuer-whistleblower-edward-snowden-1.18347134


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    #2
    Recondite49
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,004 ✭✭✭Recondite49


    Impetus wrote: »
    The US has been engaged in espionage activities in the Republic of Geneva, and a Swiss lawyer is negotiating with Snowden to come to Switzerland to testify against the US in a court case under Swiss law.

    This would allow Switzerland to protect Snowden against extradition to the US under the Swiss-USA extradition treaty. Sort of witness protection programme stuff basically.

    Switzerland would be a far more pleasant campsite for him than Moscow.

    http://www.nzz.ch/nzzas/nzz-am-sonntag/schweizer-anwalt-fuer-whistleblower-edward-snowden-1.18347134

    Thanks Impetus, looks promising! Do you think it'll be strictly necessary for him to be in Switzerland to testify though ; couldn't he do it via video link?


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    #3
    Manach
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 9,669 Mod ✭✭✭✭Manach


    Hopefully he will make it to Switizerland, but there is always the off-chance that the plane may get "diverted" to a country with an extradition treaty with the US.


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    #4
    Guy:Incognito
    Registered Users Posts: 38,247 ✭✭✭✭Guy:Incognito


    Manach wrote: »
    Hopefully he will make it to Switizerland, but there is always the off-chance that the plane may get "diverted" to a country with an extradition treaty with the US.

    I'm sure if he has his duffle bag full of nazi gold the Swiss will make sure he gets there safe and sound. Always the protector of the little guy are the Swiss. :-)


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    #5
    Arthur Beesley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,537 ✭✭✭Arthur Beesley


    Yes, the Swiss can always be relied in to do the right thing.


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    #6
    Impetus
    Registered Users Posts: 1,667 ✭✭✭Impetus


    Snowden worked for the CIA in Geneva for a few years - they (US) gave him a diplomatic passport. While he could testify "via Skype" I think it would be a good excuse to move to a new campsite. They could send a private jet over for him - routed over Russia, Belarus, Poland, Slovakia and Austria. I don't think any of these countries would block his transit - if they knew he was onboard. He has revealed so much I suspect they would all like the Swiss to make a court issue of the matter.

    There is one story in his wiki about him witnessing a fellow CIA operative getting a Swiss banker drunk. He was arrested for drunk driving going home. The CIA offered diplomatic assistance to the banker - if he provided names of clients. Which smells like blackmail fodder?

    He needs to be careful if using public transport in Geneva, because some routes cross into France. While Switzerland is in Schengen, and thus no passport checks on the buses at the frontier anymore, he could be identified if the French had his mobile phone number and it roamed on one of the French networks.

    http://www.unireso.com/files/documents/TPG-Plan_Peripherique_28_juin_14.pdf


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