Edward Snowden, a former National Security Agency (NSA) official who is considered a hero by some and a traitor by others, said some time ago that he does not live in Moscow, but on the Internet. Almost everything that can be learned about him first-hand, he publishes on his Twitter channel or in video messages during video conferences. His Russian lawyer Anatoly Kucherena - and, of course, the Russian secret services, whose role is obscure - carefully hides him from the public eye and only briefly talks about Snowden's life every couple of months.
Nothing can be verified. The information that he works in the field of information technology was later denied by his American lawyer. Snowden meets only with journalists who have come specifically for this; he refuses interviews to both Russian and foreign correspondents accredited in Moscow. This shields him from Russian state propaganda. But the same thing turns him into a "ghost" in Russia, as the Russian specialist for special services Andrey Soldatov.
Context
Snowden keeps a low profile
National Public Radio 07/01/2016Putin, Snowden and Alternative Facts
Epoca 16.03.2017Snowden vs. the Yarovaya Package
The Washington Times June 27, 2016Exactly five years have passed since the day Snowden arrived at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport from Hong Kong, where he spent a full 40 days before he received political asylum in Russia. The fact that it was Russia that took pity on him at that time can be called some kind of diabolical whim of fate, which anticipated the turn from delusions to reality brought to an ideal in the future: Russia managed to position itself as a free country and defender of the fighter against the overseer state.
Since then, Snowden has been doomed to watch the script paradox. The fight against the Telegram messenger (Telegram) and the ban on anonymous surfing on the Internet are absolutely contrary to the ideas of the American. The law obliging ISPs to store data of Russian users on the territory of Russia was even officially justified by Snowden's revelations. This has already led to the blocking of Internet sites and may affect Facebook and Twitter. And then Snowden risks losing even his existence on the Internet.
Family
Edward Snowden was born on June 21, 1983 in Elizabeth City. Lonnie Snowden, his father, worked (until 2009) in the Coast Guard, and his mother, Elizabeth, was a lawyer (still working in court). In addition to Edward, the family had a daughter, his older sister, whose name is Jessica.Education of Edward Snowden
In 1999, Edward Snowden moved with his parents to Ellicot City, Maryland. Edward took courses at one of the colleges in order to get the required number of points for obtaining a high school diploma. This document in the USA is required for the possibility of entering the university. It should be noted that Edward did not complete his college course.He received his higher education in absentia much later, already in 2011.
Edward Snowden's work for the government
In 2003, the guy went to serve in the army. However, it did not last long. During the exercise, Snowden managed to break both of his legs. After the injury, the medical commission decided to retire the fighter.After the army, Snowden began his career. He got his first job at the National Security Agency. His tasks included guarding one of the NSA facilities at the University of Maryland.
Despite the formal lack of qualifications, his professional skills in the field of IT allowed him to quickly climb the career ladder in intelligence. In 2007, Snowden took a position with the CIA and went under diplomatic cover to the Swiss capital of Geneva.
According to Snowden himself, it was his close acquaintance with the methods of work of the CIA in Geneva that dissuaded him from the fact that he was doing the right thing. He realized that he was "part of something that does more harm than good."
The young idealist wanted to declassify information about violations of the law by the special services much earlier, but he had high hopes that the situation would change with the election of Obama. However, it soon became clear that the new president was continuing the policies of his predecessors. Edward retires from the CIA and in 2009 begins working for the NSA as an employee of external contractors such as Dell and Booz AllenHamilton.
Exposure on behalf of Edward Snowden: a chronology of events
He began working on the possibility of declassifying information about the crimes of American intelligence services back in January 2013. Then he began to contact Laura Poitras (one of the founders of the Freedom of the Press Foundation), journalist Glenn Greenwald (The Guardian) and publicist Barton Gellman (Washington Post).Edward Snowden: BBC English interview
On May 20, 2013, Snowden took a leave of absence, citing the need for medical treatment, and flew to Hong Kong. From where did he pass some of the information to trusted journalists. However, there is still some time left before all the cards are revealed.
On June 6, he sent a message to Gelman that the police had come to his home in Hawaii. The Guardian and Washington Post newspapers, at the request of Edward himself, immediately published on their pages information about the PRISM total surveillance system.
On June 9, Edward Snowden met with journalists in Hong Kong. It was then that it became known that it was he who staged a loud exposure. According to Edward himself, he did not plan to hide, because he did not believe that he had done something bad. However, already on June 10, Snowden was on the run.
Ten days later he turned 30 years old. It was on this day that the United States formally charged Snowden. On June 22, an appeal to the Hong Kong authorities followed with a demand to detain and extradite Snowden. To this, the authorities of the Asian country responded with a soft refusal. Formally, Snowden's detention was denied due to inaccurate wording in the extradition request.
Who is behind Edward Snowden?
The next day, information appeared in the media about the arrival of the now disgraced American in Russia. This caused a real stir among the journalists who flooded Sheremetyevo. Without a visa, Snowden was forced to remain in the airport's transit area.
On June 30, he sent an official request to the Russian Foreign Ministry with a request to grant him political asylum. In addition, about 20 similar requests were sent to different countries. A positive response to which was given by Nicaragua, Venezuela and Bolivia.
On August 1, he received a certificate of temporary asylum in Russia for a period of one year.
On October 31, it became known that Snowden was able to find work in Russia - he will be engaged in technical support for the Internet portal.
In November of the same year, he filed a petition for pardon with the authorities of his country.
Personal life of Edward Snowden
Edward Snowden can be described as a romantic and idealist. Journalists who interviewed him in Hong Kong describe him as quiet, good-natured, intelligent and modest.He explains all his behavior as a responsibility to humanity and believes that everyone needs to act before it is too late.
For a long time, Snowden met with dancer Lindsey Mills. The young couple planned to get married, in the spring of 2013 they lived together in Hawaii, on the island of Waipahu.
The disappearance of Snowden came as a surprise even to his significant other. Lindsey was having a hard time breaking up. She wrote on her blog that after Edward's sudden disappearance, her "world opened and then closed", leaving her "lost at sea without a compass".
Without a doubt, Edward is very worried about his loved ones, worried for their safety. According to him, he can no longer communicate closely with anyone, since the authorities of his country can be cruel towards those people who know him. In October 2013, he managed to meet with his father, who came to Russia to visit his son.
Why he changed his mind about the iPhone.
The name of this honest guy flashed in the press in June 2013. Exactly then former CIA officer told the whole truth about the dirty deeds of the US and British governments.
Since then, his life has been under close surveillance in the press. It's funny, considering the fact that this whole mess started with him fighting for non-intervention into private life.
That's why he's remembered at all
Edward Snowden was an employee of the American CIA and moved up the career ladder very well. Everything would be fine, but access to classified information, screaming about the violation of the rights of citizens, did not give him rest. And Edward couldn't keep it to himself.
In 2009, the young idealist leaves the CIA and becomes an employee of the National Security Agency. And in 2013, he began to closely communicate with publicists from leading publications, such as TheGuardian and Washington Post. In the summer of the same year, Edward arranges with their help a loud exposure of the spy system PRISM.
According to Snowden, with the help of it, the governments of the two countries resort to total control of citizens. In order not to be unfounded, the quick-witted guy grabbed a number of classified materials on the work of American intelligence services. And the very next day he was on the run.
Snowden hasn't finished college yet
While still a student, Edward tried to score the required number of points to obtain a certificate, but something went wrong. So higher education he received in absentia and only in 2011.
In 2003, the guy was taken to the army, but even there everything was not going smoothly. Even during the exercises, he manages to break both legs, after which he is commissioned as a civilian.
Despite the lack of experience and professional qualifications, he is hired by the National Security Agency. The guy is doing great and very soon gets a good position in the CIA. Where subsequently he is disappointed in the honesty of the special services.
Edward was reluctantly but sheltered in Russia
After a loud revelation, Snowden realized that he would not be forgiven for this so easily. Therefore, he quickly moved to the transit zone of Sheremetyevo Airport and began to look for political refuge.
There was nowhere else to run - his American passport had already been canceled, and in the States he was awaiting imprisonment for up to 30 years. From 27 countries only Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua responded to his request. Edward was slightly disappointed. But on July 1, the answer came from Putin.
A month later, Snowden was already registered with the Russian migration service. But with the condition that he will no longer harm his homeland. And in August 2014, the guy got three year residence permit which allows him to travel even outside the country.
The guy does not get tired of receiving titles and awards
During a year of living in Russia, Snowden not only found a job supporting a large website, but also became “Person of the Year” several times. This is how the guy was dubbed by viewers of the Euronews TV channel and readers of the Guardian newspaper.
And on April 7, 2014, Snowden was awarded the "Ridenoir Prize" for his courage in the name of truth. And in September of the same year, the guy received "Alternative Nobel Prize". They hand it over for especially revealing deeds, and apparently, Snowden conquered them with his determination.
But the American authorities are in no hurry to praise. For example, Hillary Clinton advises against returning a criminal and a securities thief to the country. And Senator Bernie Sanders even promises to imprison Snowden and shut down all the spyware he mentioned. Well, only when Bernie is elected president :)
One of the former CIA officers, Robert Baer, said that this was not the case in his time. And he blamed incompetent intelligence services for what happened. Some even considered Snowden to be a Russian intelligence agent, but Edward said that this was complete nonsense.
He handed over all the secret materials to journalists and arrived in Moscow with absolutely clear conscience. But the Americans hardly believed him.
American authorities offered a deal on his passport
Lawyer to defend Snowden's rights Anatoly Kucherena. It was he who told reporters about the curious deal offered to him by American diplomats.
After Snowden fled to Moscow from Hong Kong, his US passport was revoked. That is why the Sheremetyevo transit zone became his temporary prison.
To transport Edward to Washington, American diplomats offered to open his passport, but only one way: Russia - America. To which Snowden's lawyer replied: "Either you open your passport without restrictions, or you don't open it at all."
What the world looks like according to Snowden
Of course, most of the information flows to the special services through mobile phones. All geographical movements, calls, mail, voice acting of what is happening with the owner of the gadget. Anything, up to the photo in online mode. In short, they invested heavily in the system.
In addition, every purchase, every trip abroad, every e-mail subject and every file on a personal computer is tracked. Snowden threatened to reveal the addresses of all state data interception points. And also to name the names of major American television companies that supply the special services with millions of recordings a day.
The British government commented simply: "Everything happens due to strict necessity and does not go beyond the law."
Edward is dissatisfied with the observance of human rights in Russia
Having settled in Russia, Snowden found out that he could not do without jambs anywhere. In particular, he was dissatisfied with human rights in the field Internet spheres.
The Kremlin replied that he has the right to such an opinion. But now Edward sees that the situation is improving, and the human rights movement is gaining momentum.
Even with limited contact with his homeland, Edward finds ways to lecture at Princeton University. And Scottish students from Glasgow even chose Snowden as their rector.
The guy was the hero of the book and films
Snowden's act inspired many idealists. Some, after close communication with him, even decided to release a book or make a film, as the journalist did Laura Poitras.
In the very first days of the rental, the picture “CITIZENFOUR. The Truth of Snowden attracted more than 10,000 viewers to the cinema. In addition, the film became the highest grossing non-fiction project of the year and was even nominated for an Oscar.
All the same Snowden became the prototype for the book of his lawyer Anatoly Kucherena. The first book of the trilogy was called "Octopus Time", and its film adaptation was entrusted to the famous director Oliver Stone. So Edward can no longer worry about his mark in history.
Snowden has a very strained relationship with the FBI
Edward Snowden is an American technical assistant, known throughout the world for the publication of a number of sensational revelations by the US intelligence agencies regarding mass surveillance of citizens. Since 2013, his name has appeared on the front pages of the media, as information about violations by the National Security Agency (NSA) of the rights and freedoms of millions of Americans and Europeans struck the world community.
Recently, Snowden has been living in Russia, where he was granted political asylum, since the United States declared him in international wanted list, accusing him in absentia of embezzlement and disclosure of state secrets, which is regarded as a threat to the country's security.
Childhood and youth
Edward Snowden was born on June 21, 1983 in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. His parents, Coast Guard Lonnie and lawyer Elizabeth Snowden, are divorced. In the family, Edward is youngest child, he has an older sister, Jessica, who works as a lawyer at the Federal Judicial Center in Washington.
Snowden's childhood and youth were spent in his hometown, where the future employee of the CIA and the US NSA received his secondary education. In 1999, the Snowden family moved to Maryland. There, Edward entered Ann Arundel College, where he studied training courses for entering university.
However, due to health reasons, he never completed the course of study - he had to continue his studies remotely, which did not prevent Snowden from receiving a master's degree from the University of Liverpool in 2011.
In 2004, Edward Snowden went to serve in the US Armed Forces as a reservist, from where he was commissioned a few months after receiving a serious injury to both legs. From that moment on, Snowden's biography was directly related to computer science, programming and IT technologies, in which the guy showed professionalism and special talent, despite the lack of formal confirmation of the specialist's qualifications.
Service in the CIA
Edward Snowden's career climb was confident and swift. The specialist received his first professional skills at the NSA, working in the security structure of a secret facility at the University of Maryland. A few years later, Snowden was hired by the CIA and sent to Geneva under diplomatic cover as the US permanent representative to the UN. There, his responsibilities included the implementation of the security of computer networks. According to Edward, his work in Switzerland opened his eyes to the fact that he is a special link in the US intelligence services, bringing people more harm than good.
In 2009, the programmer quit the CIA and began working for NSA-affiliated consulting firms Dell and Booz Allen Hamilton as an outside contractor.
Snowden did not approve of the activities of the US National Security Agency, in the future, freeing the American public from illusions about the lawful actions of the government in relation to the whole world. In this regard, in 2013, the NSA special agent decided to act according to the dictates of his heart and reveal to people secret information that exposes American intelligence services in mass surveillance of people.
Snowden has repeatedly noted that he wanted to declassify the illegal actions of the NSA and the CIA back in 2008, but he hoped that with the coming to power, the situation in the US secret services would change. It soon became obvious to the programmer that the new US president continued the policy of his predecessors and did not intend to interfere with the activities of "spies".
Revelations and prosecutions
Snowden's work to declassify the crimes of American intelligence agencies started in 2013. Then the former CIA and NSA agent contacted film producer Laura Poitras, American journalist Glenn Greenwald and publicist Barton Gellman, whom he said that he was ready to provide classified information.
Snowden's communication took place through encrypted e-mail messages, through which the IT specialist leaked 200,000 secret documents to journalists. Their status of secrecy exceeded previously published materials on WikiLeaks regarding the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. After that, a scandal erupted, and the announced compromising material received the effect of a thermonuclear bomb in the press. In the future, the founder of WikiLeaks, will declare that thanks to the international non-profit organization, Snowden remains at large.
Edward Snowden's revelations contained facts about US surveillance of the population in 60 countries of the world and 35 government departments throughout Europe. The programmer declassified information about the PRISM program, with the help of which special agents conducted mass surveillance of the negotiations between Americans and foreign citizens via the Internet and mobile communications.
According to Edward, the PRISM program allowed the NSA to eavesdrop on voice and video chats, view email and photos, monitor file transfers, and own all the information of social network users. A large number of popular services participated in this program: Microsoft (Hotmail), Facebook, Google (Gmail), Skype, Yahoo!, AOL, YouTube, Apple and Paltalk.
Also sensational exposure of Snowden was the secret ruling of the FISC court, according to which the largest operator cellular communication Verizon is required to provide the NSA with metadata for all calls made within the United States on a daily basis. Against the background of this decision, journalists suggested that other American cellular operators could also be involved in such obligations.
In addition, thanks to Snowden, it became known about the existence of the Tempora tracking program, which intercepts Internet traffic and telephone conversations, and about the integrated software iPhone, which allows you to monitor the actions of the user.
One of the most resonant revelations of Snowden was the disclosure of the fact that US intelligence agents intercepted telephone conversations of foreign politicians and officials who participated in the G20 summit, held in 2009 in London. The number of victims of misconduct by the US NSA included many well-known politicians from around the world.
According to the Pentagon, Snowden is in possession of 1.7 million classified documents, most of which concern vital information about the operations of the US army and navy, marines and air force. This information, according to journalists, will be gradually disclosed in order to damage the national interests of the United States and the NSA.
After deciding to reveal his identity, Edward Snowden, realizing that he would have to pay dearly for this act, went on the run.
At first, the programmer was hiding in Hong Kong, where he planned to obtain political asylum. After the official accusation by the American authorities of embezzlement and disclosure of secret state secrets, which happened on the day of Edward's 30th birthday, the spy appeared in Moscow at the Sheremetyevo airport for unknown reasons, but, without a Russian visa, was forced to stay in the airport's transit zone .
According to media reports, in Russia, the programmer was met by a car with diplomatic plates of Venezuela, which took Snowden away in an unknown direction. Presumably, through Moscow, Edward intended to go to South America.
On June 30, 2013, he asked for political asylum in Russia, and the very next day, the Russian President allowed the programmer to stay in the country on the condition that he stop the subversive work of the American intelligence services.
At the same time, Edward Snowden filed a petition for pardon with the American authorities, citing the fact that he does not observe anything bad and illegal in his actions. The American authorities have a controversial attitude towards Snowden's revelations, believing that the programmer is obliged to stand trial because he gave out US state secrets. American intelligence officials consider the act of the former CIA and NSA officer tough and illegal, causing irreparable damage to the US intelligence service.
In turn, in European Union are categorically on the issue of the prosecution of Snowden. The European Parliament has repeatedly called on the EU to refuse to impose a sentence on the American, to provide him with protection, which will make it impossible for him to be extradited to the United States or returned by a third party.
In July 2016, US CIA Director John Brennan said that Snowden should return to the US and stand trial. Then the head of the American foreign intelligence did not support the position of the former US Attorney General Eric Holder, who called Snowden's activities "a service to society." The head of the CIA does not believe that thanks to Edward, a discussion of socially significant issues began in the country.
In 2016, an ex-employee of the National Security Agency told in an interview with the publication Financial Times about his life in the Russian capital. Snowden admitted that his knowledge of the Russian language is only enough to make an order in a restaurant. Snowden added that he lives in Eastern North American Time and spends most of his time on the Internet, but "it was always like that in his life."
Snowden has repeatedly expressed his opinion on Russian anti-terrorism laws. A former employee of the American intelligence services criticized in his microblog in social network "Twitter" a package of laws (“package”) that introduce life imprisonment for international terrorism and oblige telecom operators, instant messengers and social networks to store information about the facts of conversations and correspondence of users and their content.
“Mass surveillance does not work. This law robs every Russian of money and freedom without improving security. You should not sign it, ”Snowden notes.
In 2017, as before, the authorities of many countries of the world invite a former employee of the American intelligence services to speak on a number of issues, as well as to give lectures.
Films
"The most wanted man in the world" Edward Snowden, after the publication and disclosure of classified information from the American intelligence services, became one of the main persons for writers and filmmakers who thought about making him part of their creations. He was the protagonist of the documentary Citizenfour, filmed by Laura Poitras based on an interview with an ex-CIA and NSA officer.
A film about Edward Snowden won prestigious award"Oscar" as the best documentary with a bold plot, which from the first to the last seconds carries sensational information of a revealing nature.
In 2016, the world saw a new project by the famous director called Snowden, dedicated to the story of a former US IT specialist hiding from the evil American government. The main roles in the film were played by actors, and.
Personal life
The personal life of Edward Snowden after his high-profile revelations in view of the precautions taken has become a secret to society. O family life he once mentioned in passing - in 2013 he said that he had a wife and children. It is known that since 2009 his girlfriend was dancer Lindsey Mills, with whom he lived in a civil marriage on the Hawaiian island of Waipahu.
There were rumors that in 2013 the couple broke up. But director Oliver Stone, the author of the film about Snowden, denied this information. The American spy still lives with his chosen one in Russia. This fact is also evidenced by their joint photos that appear on Lindsay's personal Instagram account.
In 2013, a former employee of the Russian special services proposed to Edward Snowden to marry her. She wrote about this on Twitter, but users called such a step on her part PR.
According to journalists who interviewed Edward in Hong Kong, Snowden remains good-natured and smart person, in the character of which notes of romance and idealism can be traced. The programmer leads a quiet and healthy lifestyle lives, practices Buddhism, spends a lot of time at the computer and enjoys reading books on the history of Russia. At the same time, the "whistleblower" of the NSA and the CIA adheres to vegetarian diet does not drink coffee or drink alcohol.
Edward Snowden now
Repeatedly, the programmer stated that he was ready to move to the United States, subject to an open trial with the presence of a jury. But no head of state has so far given Snowden such guarantees. In 2017, journalists suggested that Moscow would no longer hide Edward in Russia, but would extradite him to the new US president, but the programmer again managed to renew his residence permit.
In 2018, the American stopped public relations for a period of six months. In autumn, he participated in a videoconference with the University of Management in the Austrian city of Innsbruck. Edward said that he now manages the American Foundation for the Defense of the Freedom of Journalists.
As part of his activities, Snowden is developing a program that ensures the protection of information sources from external threats. According to the former CIA officer, he is primarily concerned about the problems of American society, with which he continues to struggle. At the same time, Edward does not stop criticizing the Russian government and reforms.
In November, Snowden lectured senior Mossad personnel, providing them via videoconference with evidence of NSA intrusion into Israeli intelligence operations. Snowden does not yet provide information about new speeches in 2019, but it is assumed that the programmer will continue to expose the American intelligence services.
Quotes
Snowden himself says this about his revelations:
“I carefully reviewed each document to make sure that its disclosure would serve the legitimate interests of the public. There are documents of all types that would have great consequences if they were released, but I do not release them because my goal is openness, not harming people.”
A former US intelligence officer who handed over classified materials to the media about the global surveillance of the US and British intelligence services on the Internet, Edward Joseph Snowden was born on June 21, 1983 in Elizabeth City (North Carolina, USA).
His family later moved to Maryland.
Edward Snowden did not graduate from high school. In 1999-2005, he periodically studied at a local college. Later, Snowden passed tests certifying his knowledge in the volume high school(General Educational Development).
On August 1, 2013, an ex-CIA agent was granted temporary asylum in Russia for a period of one year, provided that he ceases his activities against the United States. After that, he airport "Sheremetyevo". Snowden claimed to be in Moscow.
In the summer of 2016, CNN reported that Edward Snowden was developing a cover model for the iPhone 6 smartphone, which would completely block the transmission of the GPS signal and thereby avoid surveillance by intelligence agencies. He conducted this work in collaboration with the American hacker Andrew Huang, who lived in Singapore.
At the end of December 2017, Snowden, allowing owners to remotely monitor the integrity of their homes and property. The co-author of the project is the Freedom of the Press Foundation.
Edward Snowden was, including a symbolic award named after the German judge and prosecutor Fritz Bauer public organization"Humanist Union" (Humanistische Union) for civil courage (2014), and (Ridenhour prize) in the nomination "for the truth" (2014), awards International Foundation"For the right way of life", also known as "
