Moscow was initially intended as a temporary stopover on his journey, but Snowden ended up getting stranded at Sheremetyevo Airport without proper ID. Snowden could neither leave Russia nor enter it, forcing him to remain in the airport's transit zone.
While stranded, Snowden reportedly sought asylum in 27 countries, hoping to gain protection from US prosecutors. Venezuela offered Snowden asylum, as well as Nicaragua.
Reuters/Maxim Shemetov
Ecuador also considered giving Snowden asylum but then had a change of heart.
At least 11 other states rejected requests.
Snowden received five outright rejections from Finland, Brazil, Poland, India, and Germany, according to WikiLeaks.
Spain, Norway, Italy and Austria also rejected Snowden's applications, stating that asylum requests cannot be granted unless the applicant is already inside the country.
US steps up intimidationIn the meantime, the US launched a witch-hunt campaign to get Snowden.
Late in June, Washington stated that it expected the Russian government to "look at all options available" to expel Edward Snowden to the US to face espionage charges. The US comments came after the White House expressed "disappointment" that China and Hong Kong didn't detain the NSA leaker.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said he "would be deeply troubled" if China and Russia knew about the whistleblower's plans. "There would be without any question some effect and impact on the relationship" with the US if this had taken place.
Earlier the US State Department issued a statement warning countries of the "Western Hemisphere" about reports that Edward Snowden might be looking for refuge in the region and urging them to not let the whistleblower in and assist with returning him to the US.
At the beginning of July, Bolivian President Evo Morales' plane -- returning from Moscow -- was forced to make a sudden stop in Vienna, after Spain, France, Portugal and Italy abruptly blocked their airspace to him. In Vienna, officials inquired whether the plane was carrying Edward Snowden.
The Bolivian presidential airplane is parked at the Vienna International Airport in Schwechat July 3, 2013 (Reuters/Heinz-Peter Bader)
"We have no doubt that it was an order from the White House," Bolivia's Ambassador to the United Nations in New York, Sacha Llorenti Soliz said. "By no means should a diplomatic plane with the president be diverted from its route and forced to land in another country."
After the incident, Snowden applied for temporary asylum in Russia, a status that would allow him to live and work in the country for one year.
The photo of Edward Snowden's application for political asylum in Russia taken by Russian human rights lawyer Anatoly Kucherena.
On August 1, Snowden was granted temporary asylum and was allowed to enter Russia.
His present location has not been made public nor will it be disclosed, Snowden's legal representative Anatoly Kucherena said. "He is the most wanted person on earth and his security will be a priority," the attorney explained.
Since then, the US has not stopped its intimidation tactics directed at Snowden and those who help him.
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