Edward Snowden goes to court against the Norwegian state – Dagsavisen

On behalf of whistleblower Edward Snowden and PEN has law firm Schjødt taken legal action against the state to legally establish that Norway has no right to extradite Snowden to the United States if he comes to Norway.

 
 

– The central legal question is that Snowden can not be extradited to the United States for extradition law. The law makes an exception for extradition when the alleged crime was of a political nature. Then no extradition take place. Neither Snowden or Norwegian PEN can take risks that will bring him coming to Norway without that this is pre-determined, says Schjødt lawyer Halvard Helle.

 
 

He would not comment on whether he had direct contact with Snowden.

 
 

– I can not go into detail about the client relationship, he says to Dagsavisen.

 
 

Read also: Ber state take Snowden-grip

 
 

Snowden will come

 
 

The background to the case is that freedom of expression organization Norwegian PEN has awarded Snowden Ossietzky Prize in 2016 for his efforts for freedom of expression.

 
 

PEN wants Snowden will accept the award in person during the ceremony on November 18 in Oslo.

 
 

– Snowden will really come to Norway to receive the prize. But he can not go anywhere until he is guaranteed that he will not be extradited. It is this guarantee will now want to make, says Secretary General Hege Newth Nouri Dagsavisen.

 
 

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Tom chair

 
 

Last year Snowden invited to Norway to receive Bjornson Prize in Molde. Then would not Justice Minister Anders Anundsen guarantee Snowden free pass. Anundsen said he would not intervene in individual cases and that it was up to the courts to make a decision whether the conditions for extradition are fulfilled.

 
 

The result was that Snowden thanks for the award via video transmission from Moscow, while an empty chair with award diploma stood on the stage and emphasized his absence.

 
 

– Why do you go to court to affirm this?

 
 

– Because this will be binding for Norwegian authorities. The question is legally resolved. Snow Its case is unique, but the principle lawsuit is based, rests on a secure legal foundation that has been applicable law in all time, says Helle.

 
 

See also: Pricing Snowden

 
 

Would not give warranty

 
 

Newth Nouri believes Snowden must be regarded as a warning and not a criminal and have confidence in the Norwegian court.

 
 

– We are a modern constitutional state and must have confidence that the courts falls right decision. There are no similar cases from before so this is fundamentally important.

 
 

– What will this could mean for Snow Its ability to remain in Norway?

 
 

– We’ll make an award ceremony we have invited him to attend. We invite authors and other visiting all the time, what they do after we have had them for a visit, is not our concern.

 
 

Snowden risks life imprisonment in the United States for espionage and lives in exile in Russia.