2013-06-23 Edward Snowden en route to Ecuador

Earlier this morning, WikiLeaks announced that NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden had left Hong Kong with the assistance of WikiLeaks legal advisors.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) released a statement earlier, responding to inquiries from the US and also querying the statement by Snowden that the NSA had been spying on Chinese networks.

Meanwhile, the HKSAR Government has formally written to the US Government requesting clarification on earlier reports about the hacking of computer systems in Hong Kong by US government agencies. The HKSAR Government will continue to follow up on the matter so as to protect the legal rights of the people of Hong Kong.

Philip Dorling of the Sydney Morning Herald reported on the development, quoting Julian Assange.

He is expected to land in Moscow at 5pm local time and will be met by diplomats from the country that will be his ultimate destination. Diplomats from that country will accompany him on a further flight to his destination.

WikiLeaks released a statement on Edward Snowden at 13:00 BST.

Mr Edward Snowden, the American whistleblower who exposed evidence of a global surveillance regime conducted by US and UK intelligence agencies, has left Hong Kong legally. He is bound for a democratic nation via a safe route for the purposes of asylum, and is being escorted by diplomats and legal advisors from WikiLeaks.

Mr Snowden requested that WikiLeaks use its legal expertise and experience to secure his safety. Once Mr Snowden arrives at his final destination his request will be formally processed.

Former Spanish Judge Mr Baltasar Garzón, legal director of Wikileaks and lawyer for Julian Assange, made the following statement:

"The WikiLeaks legal team and I are interested in preserving Mr Snowden's rights and protecting him as a person. What is being done to Mr Snowden and to Mr Julian Assange - for making or facilitating disclosures in the public interest - is an assault against the people".

By this time, reporters had found the name "Harrison" on the Aeroflot passenger manifest and speculated that Snowden was being escorted to Moscow by Sarah Harrison.

WikiLeaks later confirmed this.

"Miss Harrison has courageously assisted Mr Snowden with his lawful departure from Hong Kong and is accompanying Mr Snowden in his passage to safety."

Harrison is a UK citizen, journalist, and legal researcher who is currently working with the WikiLeaks Legal Defense team led by former Spanish Judge Baltasar Garzón.

At 2:19 PM BST, WikiLeaks announced that Snowden had landed in Moscow.

Foreign Minister for Ecuador Ricardo Patiño announced at 5:35 PM that Snowden had made a formal request for asylum.

Snowden was met at the airport by staff from the Ecuadorean embassy in Moscow. It is believed he may spend the night in the airport before continuing on to his final destination, now believed to be Ecuador.

WikiLeaks released the following updated statement at 17:50 BST.

Mr Edward Snowden, the American whistleblower who exposed evidence of a global surveillance regime conducted by US and UK intelligence agencies, has left Hong Kong legally. He is bound for the Republic of Ecuador via a safe route for the purposes of asylum, and is being escorted by diplomats and legal advisors from WikiLeaks.

Mr Snowden requested that WikiLeaks use its legal expertise and experience to secure his safety. Once Mr Snowden arrives in Ecuador his request will be formally processed.

Former Spanish Judge Mr Baltasar Garzón, legal director of WikiLeaks and lawyer for Julian Assange, has made the following statement:

"The WikiLeaks legal team and I are interested in preserving Mr Snowden’s rights and protecting him as a person. What is being done to Mr Snowden and to Mr Julian Assange - for making or facilitating disclosures in the public interest - is an assault against the people."

Kim Dotcom had the following comment on Twitter:

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