Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor, said Thursday that he won't return to the United States as he sees "no chance" of a fair trial.
During a question and answer session with the supporters on the 'Free Snowden' website, he said, "The hundred-year old law under which I've been charged... forbids a public interest defense,".
"This is especially frustrating, because it means there's no chance to have a fair trial, and no way I can come home and make my case to a jury," he said, reported the Agence France-Presse.
One supporter asked Snowden about the circumstances under which he would return to the U.S. "Returning to the US, I think, is the best resolution for the government, the public, and myself, but it's unfortunately not possible in the face of current whistleblower protection laws, which, through a failure in law, did not cover national security contractors like myself," he said.
"Maybe when Congress comes together to end the programs... they'll reform the Whistleblower Protection Act, and we'll see a mechanism for all Americans, no matter who they work for, to get a fair trial."
At present, the 30-year-old NSA leaker faces espionage charges for revealing information about NSA surveillance programs.
Eric Holder, the US Attorney General said Thursday that there are chances Snowden might not get clemency. He told MSNBC TV that the U.S. authorities would deliberate about a decision on the case if Snowden confessed to leaking the secret documents.
Recently, the University of Glasgow in Scotland, UK, nominated Snowden for the rectorial post. The students have even launched a campaign in his support.
