Snowden accepts Norwegian prize

He said that Moscow’s increasing restrictions on online activities, and its treatment of gay people were “a mistake in policy”, and wrong.

The former U.S. intelligence contractor was given a three-year residence permit in August 2014, but insisted that it was never his choice to go there. He has lived in the country after leaving Hong Kong, where he leaked details of the NSA’s domestic surveillance program.

Former USA intelligence worker Edward Snowden has received a prize from the Norwegian Academy of Literature and Freedom of Expression. “They were all silent”.

In its citation, the jury said Snowden had “shown how the electronic integrated information world can be a threat to personal integrity, and also might pose a threat against freedom of expression”. “I expected to be in prison”.

“Within the Charlie Hebdo assaults for instance, the intelligence providers say: “Oh sure, we knew who these individuals have been”. But it didn’t stop the attack”.

Edward Snowden is represented by an empty chair while being awarded the Bjørnson Prize in Molde, Norway, on September, 5, 2015.

“But exile is exile”, he said.

On June 23, 2013, Snowden flew to the Russian capital Moscow in an attempt to seek asylum in the European country two days after the US Department of Justice accused him of violating the country’s Espionage Act.

It was widely reported that – as part of his asylum application to the country – Mr Snowden was banned from criticising the Russian government and their policies – and it remains to be seen whether these comments will have an effect on his current status. It’s about more then surveillance, I think, it’s about democracy. “I imply, when individuals ask me the place I reside, probably the most trustworthy reply is on the web”, he stated.