Edward Snowden's time as a resident of Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport may soon be coming to an end as Venezuela has extended an offer of asylum to the National Security Agency whistle-blower, according to CNN.
Venezuela's Foreign Affairs Minister Elias Jaua spoke on state run television Saturday saying that the country has not spoken with Snowden directly and is still waiting to hear if he accepts their offer.
"We would also secondly have to get in touch with the government from the Russian Federation where he is, since he is there - and obviously not in Venezuelan territory - to see their thoughts on it," Jaua said.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro addressed Snowden and the U.S. spy programs while speaking at a parade on Saturday, according to NBC News.
"Who is the guilty one?" Maduro said. "A young man...who denounces war plans, or the U.S. government which launces bombs and arms the terrorist Syrian opposition against the people and legitimate President Bashar al-Assad?"
Snowden appeared to be on his way to Ecuador from Hong Kong when he ended up stranded in Russia and left to dry by the Ecuadorean government. President Correa said that the only way that Ecuador would consider Snowden's request for asylum would be if he were to do so on Ecuadorean soil, a near impossibility because Snowden is without a passport or visa to leave Sheremetyevo Airport, according to The Guardian.
Two other Latin American countries offered Snowden some degree of assistance in his plight; Bolivia has offered asylum and Nicaragua has said they would consider doing so, according to CNN.
It remains unclear how exactly Snowden would be able to get to Venezuela if he accepts their offer of asylum. As was made clear by the travel woes experienced by Bolivian president Evo Morales last week any flight with Snowden on it may have trouble flying through European airspace. After a rumor that Snowden was on the flight to Bolivia it was forced to land in Austria because it had been denied clearance to fly over France, Spain, Portugal and Italy, according to CNN.
Currently there are no flights from Moscow that operate directly to Venezuela and the flights that do go to Venezuela all stop in a country where Snowden would likely be arrested. The one country that could enable Snowden to make it to Venezuela is Cuba, according to ABC News.
Raul Castro said in a speech to Cuba's national assembly that he agrees with Venezuela's choice to grant asylum to the American.
"We support the sovereign right of....Venezuela and all states in the region to grant asylum to those persecuted for their ideals or their struggles for democratic rights," Castro said.
The Russian airline Aeroflot flies to Havana, although usually they pass through U.S. airspace while doing so. It remains to be seen if Castro wants to jeopardize the slightly improved relations his government has had with the U.S. in recent years by helping Snowden. Although, it's beginning to look like if Cuba doesn't help Snowden might have to get used to living in an airport.
