Tag: Extradition

NEWSLINK: “How the GRU spy agency targets the west, from cyberspace to Salisbury” – The Guardian (UK)/Andrew Roth

Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Britain, UK, United Kingdom, Chemical Weapons, Biological Weapons, ChemBio, Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, International Law, Newslinks, Spies, Spy Allegations, Terrorism
Stylized Artist's Depiction of Shadowy Figures in Dark Coats and Dark Hats, One Carrying a Briefcase

“… A British security source … [said] the nerve agent attack on the former double agent Sergei Skripal was also ordered by the [GRU] intelligence agency. The British government is poised to submit an extradition request to Moscow for two Russians suspected of carrying out the Salisbury attack that left one person dead and three injured, including Skripal and his […]

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NEWSLINK New York Times: Judge Rebuffs U.S. in Rejecting Extradition of Ukraine Billionaire

Newslinks, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Hand Pulling Cash from Envelope

In a defeat for the United States, an Austrian judge refused Thursday to order the extradition of Dmitri V. Firtash, a Ukrainian billionaire and onetime patron of the country’s ousted president, Viktor F. Yanukovych, siding with defense lawyers who said the American request was politically motivated.

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Interfax: Snowden must apply for extension if he decides to stay in Russia – head of Federal Migration Service council

Foreign Policy, Security, Visas, Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

MOSCOW. June 2 (Interfax) – Former CIA analyst Edward Snowden will have to ask for extension of his temporary asylum if he decides to stay in Russia, Vladimir Volokh, the head of the Public Council of the Federal Migration Service, told Interfax on Monday. “He has to request an extension of his temporary stay. No additional documents are filed if […]

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Interfax: Actions of U.S. special services force Snowden to ask for asylum, Russian special services have nothing to do with it – Kucherena

Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

(Interfax – January 22, 2014) The Russian special services have nothing to do with the flight of former CIA employee Edward Snowden, who has been granted temporary asylum in Russia, Snowden’s lawyer Anatoly Kucherena told Interfax on Wednesday. “All these conversations about the FSB [Russian Federal Security Service] involvement in some special operation related to Edward and his deeds are […]

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Interfax: Russian Prosecutor General’s Office, U.S. Department of Justice agree on possible ways to resolve extradition issue

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
FBI Headquarters Building file photo

MOSCOW. Nov 22 (Interfax) – The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office and the U.S. Department of Justice have agreed on ways to resolve extradition issues, which is a serious obstacle in the criminal justice cooperation of the two countries. “During the negotiations with substantial delegations of the U.S. Department of Justice held recently in Moscow, an agreement has been reached on […]

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RIA Novosti: Snowden’s Father Says Russia Only Safe Place For Son

Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

(RIA Novosti – MOSCOW, October 10, 2013) The father of US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden says he believes Russia, where he arrived on Thursday with the aim of meeting with his son, is the only country in which his fugitive son can feel safe. Lon Snowden told reporters on arrival at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport that he doubted his son would […]

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Russian and U.S. Authorities Could Look Into Extradition

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Russian Jail File Photo Showing Outer Wall, Windows, Barbed Wire

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – September 12, 2013) Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office and the U.S. Justice Department have agreed to sign a memorandum on cooperation in order to work together on criminal matters, in a move that could put the thorny issue of extradition between the two countries up for discussion. The agreement was reached at a meeting that took […]

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RIA Novosti: U.S. Left Five Extradition Requests Unanswered – Russia

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Photo of Vladimir Putin Leaning Towards Barack Hussein Obama With Flags Behind Them

(RIA Novosti – MOSCOW, August 21, 2013) Five of Russia’s extradition requests sent to the United States in the past few years have been left unanswered, a deputy Russian prosecutor general has said in an interview. “Since 2008, the United States has refused 16 times to extradite people to us citing the absence of a relevant treaty,” Deputy Russian Prosecutor […]

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RIA Novosti: No Changes to Planned Putin-Obama Meeting – Kremlin Spokesman

Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Photo of Barack Obama Sitting at Desk with Mike McFaul Standing Next to Him Facing Him

(RIA Novosti – MOSCOW, August 5, 2013) ­ Russia has not received any official notification that US President Barack Obama intends to cancel a planned bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow next month, Putin’s spokesman said Monday. “We haven’t received any changes, or any notifications. We don’t, therefore, have any information,” Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesman, told Russian […]

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Snowden Asylum Undercuts Obama’s Efforts on Russia Ties

Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Photo of Vladimir Putin Leaning Towards Barack Hussein Obama With Flags Behind Them

(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Terry Atlas & Nicole Gaouette – Aug. 2, 2013) Russia’s decision to grant temporary asylum to fugitive National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden is a blow to President Barack Obama’s desire to “reset” U.S. relations with its Cold War enemy. The Russian action yesterday puts in doubt a summit planned for next month between Obama and […]

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Ten Tips for a Free Snowden

Life in Russia, Culture, Arts, Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Aerial View of Moscow From Beyond Stadium, file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Justin Lifflander – Aug. 2, 2013) Now that U.S. intelligence leaker Edward Snowden is a genuine expat, armed with papers giving him refugee status for one year and free to roam Russia’s capital while he figures out his next move, here is a list of 10 do’s and don’ts that he should keep in mind. […]

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RIA Novosti: Snowden’s Russia Asylum Gets Mixed Response From Rights Advocates

Foreign Policy, Security, Visas, Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

(RIA Novosti – MOSCOW, Aug. 1, 2013) ­ The news that US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has been granted temporary asylum in Russia received mixed response from human rights advocates Thursday. The head of Amnesty International’s Moscow office said the human rights organization welcomed Russia’s decision to grant temporary asylum to Snowden, who had been holed up in a Moscow […]

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RIA Novosti: Snowden Standoff Cannot Affect U.S.-Russian Ties – Kremlin

Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

(RIA Novosti – NOVO-OGARYOVO, Aug. 1, 2013) ­ The controversy around fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden, who has been granted temporary asylum in Russia, is not of great importance and cannot harm US-Russian relations, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday. “This issue is not important enough to affect political relations,” aide Yury Ushakov told reporters, adding […]

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RIA Novosti: Most Russians Positive About Snowden – Survey

Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

(RIA Novosti – MOSCOW, August 1, 2013) ­ Over half of Russians on the whole approve of what fugitive US former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden did, an opinion survey by the Levada Center pollster has shown. Snowden, who is wanted by the United States for leaking classified data about the US National Security Agency’s surveillance programs, formally requested temporary asylum […]

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Verdict in Bradley Manning WikiLeaks case will show Snowden’s possible fate in U.S. – Russian parliamentarian

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Alexei Pushkov file photo

(Interfax – July 30, 2013) The verdict to be handed down on Tuesday to Bradley Manning, a soldier accused of the biggest leak of classified information in U.S. history, will show what could have happened to former CIA employee Edward Snowden if he had returned to the United States, Alexei Pushkov, chairman of the Russian State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee, […]

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Explainer: How Do You Get Asylum In Russia?

Foreign Policy, Security, Visas, Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

(RFE/RL – rferl.org – Tom Balmforth – July 26, 2013) Fugitive U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden has applied for temporary asylum in Russia and is expected to soon be given a document that would allow him to leave the transit zone of Sheremetyevo Airport — where he has spent the past month. RFE/RL takes a look at the procedure for […]

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Russian Migration Official Says Snowden May be in Danger

Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

(Voice of America – Jessica Golloher – MOSCOW, July 29, 2013) A Russian Federal Migration Service official said he believes it’s best that former U.S. National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden remain in Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport because he is a wanted man and is safer there. The United States has promised Russia it will not seek the death penalty if […]

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Interfax: Russia has no legal grounds to extradite Snowden – official

Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

(Interfax – July 25, 2013) Russia does not have legal grounds for extraditing former CIA employee Edward Snowden to the United States, Federal Migration Service Public Council head Vladimir Volokh stated. U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul wrote on Twitter earlier that the United States had asked Russia simply for Snowden’s return home but did not file an extradition request. […]

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TRANSCRIPT: [Putin excerpt re: Snowden] Answers to journalists’ to journalists’ questions after watching Central and Easter Military District training exercises at Tsugol test ground

Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

(Kremlin.ru – July 17, 2013)  [excerpt re: Snowden] QUESTION: Mr President, I want to ask about [Edward] Snowden. What happened with [Bolivian President Evo] Morales showed that the White House will stop short of nothing in this case. Aren’t you worried that it might jeopardise the upcoming Russian-American summit? Also, it seems that the biggest question now is how you […]

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Refuge or Asylum? Snowden’s Options in Russia

Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

(RIA Novosti – MOSCOW, July 17, 2013) It took fugitive former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden more than three days to submit an official request for asylum in Russia, after he voiced his intention to do so at meeting with human rights activists last Friday in his Moscow airport refuge. According to Russian lawyer Anatoly Kucherena, who helped Snowden with […]

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Snowden has no grounds to apply for Russian citizenship – Russian human rights activist

Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

(Interfax – MOSCOW. July 17, 2013) Former CIA employee Edward Snowden has no right to submit documents for Russian citizenship, Civil Assistance human rights committee head Svetlana Gannushkina told Interfax on Wednesday. Lawyer Anatoly Kucherena, who is helping Snowden, said on Wednesday that Snowden did not exclude applying for Russian citizenship. “As of today, Snowden has no right to submit […]

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Snowden Bows to Putin’s Demand to Stop Harming U.S.

Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Henry Meyer – July 16, 2013) Fugitive U.S. ex-security contractor Edward Snowden has agreed to Russia’s demand that he stop anti-American activity and asked for temporary asylum, a Russian lawyer advising him said. Snowden “confirmed to me personally that he will accept these conditions,” Anatoly Kucherena said by phone today. Asked if that meant the American […]

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Snowden Saga Fuels Difficult Questions

Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Ivan Nechepurenko – July 16, 2013) President Vladimir Putin said Monday that NSA leaker Edward Snowden would leave Russia “as soon as the opportunity arises” and that the U.S. had blocked any further movement for the fugitive,  adding more intrigue to the ongoing whistleblower saga. “The conditions for political asylum are clear to him, and […]

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Snowden to stay in airport transit zone or move to shelter – FMS source

Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

(Interfax – MOSCOW. July 16, 2013) Former CIA employee Edward Snowden who filed his request for temporary refuge in Russia on Tuesday will be staying in the transit zone of the Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport or move to a shelter for asylum seekers within the next few days, head of the Russian Federal Migration Service’s Public Council Vladimir Volokh told Interfax. […]

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The Kremlin’s cunning Snowden plan

Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

(Moscow News – Anna Arutunyan, Editor and Correspondent at themoscownews.com – July 15, 2013) On Friday, NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden invited about a dozen Russian rights activists to the transit zone of Sheremetyevo Airport, where he’s been holed up for three weeks. The announcement took about 200 journalists on a wild goose chase, and a weekend later, there’s still a […]

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The vicious circle of Edward Snowden

Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

(Valdai Dicussion Club – July 16, 2013 –  Fyodor Lukyanov) “There is a wealth of choice, but no other alternative.” This tag line was extremely popular in the early 1990s, although no one is likely now to remember what the Alternativa research and production association produced. But it was a good line, and Edward Snowden could have used it to […]

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Decision to be made on Snowden within three months – migration service

Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

(Interfax – MOSCOW, July 16, 2013) A decision on granting asylum to ex-CIA employee Edward Snowden will be made within three months, a highly-placed official with the Federal Migration Service told Interfax on Tuesday. “A decision will be made in compliance with the legal timeframe, within three months,” he said. Federal Migration Service spokeswoman Zalina Kornilova has confirmed to Interfax […]

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Snowden healthy, neat and prosperous – source

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Edward Snowden file photo

(Interfax – MOSCOW, July 15, 2013) Former CIA officer Edward Snowden is well and does not need medical attendance, a source in the Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport services told Interfax. “Passenger Snowden is well. He has not asked airport doctors for aid, which means he is well and does not have any health complaints. He did not ask for assistance from […]

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Snowden Puts His Future in Russia’s Hands

Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Ivan Nechepurenko – July 15, 2013) Former U.S. National Security Agency analyst Edward Snowden met with Russian human rights activists, lawyers and government officials Friday to seek their support in securing asylum in Russia in order to later travel safely to South America, leaving Russia with little wriggle room to remain neutral. “I do intend […]

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JRL NEWSBLOG: ITAR-TASS reports on text of Edward Snowden’s message inviting rights activists to conference

Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

[Text of Edward Snowden’s message inviting rights activists to conference revealed – ITAR-TASS – MOSCOW, July 12, 2013 – http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c32/805618.html] Russian news agency ITAR-TASS reports on fugitive Edward Snowden, former NSA IT support contractor, and his e-mail message to Russian activists, which later resulted in a video news conference with the activists at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport. Click here for the […]

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JRL NEWSBLOG: Snowden Is Said to Renew Plea for Asylum in Russia

Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

[Snowden Is Said to Renew Plea for Asylum in Russia – New York Times – Ellen Barry – July 12, 2013 – http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/13/world/europe/snowden-russia-asylum.html] Ellen Barry of The New York Times reports on fugitive Edward Snowden, former NSA IT support contractor, and his renewed interest in gaining asylum in Russia: … Snowden, the fugitive American intelligence contractor, met with representatives of […]

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JRL NEWSBLOG: Russia Today: Snowden wants asylum in Russia, ready to meet condition not to damage U.S.

Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

[Snowden wants asylum in Russia, ready to meet condition not to damage US – russiatoday.com – July 12, 2013 – http://rt.com/news/snowden-meets-rights-activists-013/] Pro-Kremlin Russia Today reports that the fugitive former NSA IT support contractor Edward Snowden, wanted for espionage in the United States, once again is seeking asylum in Russia: NSA leaker & former CIA employee Edward Snowden has asked for […]

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Germans Hail Snowden as NSA Evokes Stasi Seizing Lives of Others

Europe, EU, Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Stylized Artist's Depiction of Shadowy Figures in Dark Coats and Dark Hats, One Carrying a Briefcase

(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Cornelius Rahn & Leon Mangasarian – July 10, 2013) Willi Kuhlmann remembers the day the Berlin Wall was erected on Aug. 13, 1961, and how the system of spying on East German citizens by secret police known as the Stasi intensified. His experience as a border guard along the Wall that divided Germany’s capital city for […]

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UNHCR should address Snowden affair – Russian Human Rights Council head

Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

(Interfax – MOSCOW, July 10, 2013) The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) intervention would be the best way to break the deadlock in which former U.S. intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has found himself after being stuck at the transit area of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport, Russian presidential Human Rights Council Chairman Mikhail Fedotov told Interfax on Wednesday. […]

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Snowden stays put in Sheremetyevo transit zone – source

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Edward Snowden file photo

(Interfax – MOSCOW. July 3, 2013) Former CIA officer Edward Snowden stays put in the Sheremetyevo Airport transit zone, an airport representative told Interfax. “Passenger Snowden remains in the transit zone. He is unable to board a flight or even leave the transit zone because he has no documents,” the source said.

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Putin Says Snowden Must Pick Country and Leave

Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Ivan Nechepurenko – July 2, 2013) President Vladimir Putin on Monday reiterated his stance that former U.S. intelligence analyst Edward Snowden needs to choose a country to seek asylum in and leave, amid reports that the American fugitive had officially applied for safe haven in Russia and more than a dozen other countries. In only […]

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Snowden Retracts Russia Asylum Bid as Refuge Options Narrow

Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Henry Meyer & Olga Tanas – July 2, 2013) Edward Snowden has withdrawn his Russian asylum request because of the demand that he stop harming U.S. interests by leaking secret documents as countries from Latin America to Europe brushed off his bid for refuge. “Theoretically, Snowden could stay in the Russian Federation, but with one condition […]

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TRANSCRIPT: [Excerpt re Snowden] Putin News conference following the working meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) summit

Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

(Kremlin.ru – July 1, 2013) [Excerpt re Snowden] QUESTION: Do you think that Mr Snowden will fly away with one of the delegates from this meeting? VLADIMIR PUTIN: You have to ask the delegates, I don’t know. I want to emphasise (we can never get away from this topic, it seems) that Mr Snowden is not our agent, never was, […]

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RIA Novosti: Russian Officials Back Snowden, Issue ‘Not on’ Kremlin Agenda

Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

(RIA Novosti – MOSCOW, July 1, 2013) ­ Russian lawmakers and officials voiced support for fugitive US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden at a round table meeting in the Public Chamber on Monday, in contrast to muted comments by the Kremlin’s spokesperson who has said that Snowden is “not on the Kremlin’s agenda.” The head of Russia’s Presidential Human Rights Council, […]

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RIA Novosti: Agreeing to Disagree on Snowden

Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

(RIA Novosti – Fyodor Lukyanov, Editor-in-Chief of the Russia in Global Affairs journal, authoritative source of expertise on Russian foreign policy and global developments – June 28, 2013) The Snowden affair is fresh evidence of how much the world has changed in a historically short period of time. In the not too distant past, spies were the main target in […]

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