European Parliament Wants to Give Snowden Sanctuary

Nonbinding vote urges member states to let the whistleblower in.

Today the parliament of the European Union voted narrowly—285 to 281—to urge its member states to give sanctuary to Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor whose leaks shed light on the U.S. government's covert surveillance programs. Specifically, the resolution said Europe should "drop any criminal charges against Edward Snowden, grant him protection and consequently prevent extradition or rendition by third parties, in recognition of his status as whistle-blower and international human rights defender." Snowden is currently exiled in Russia.

The resolution isn't binding, so Snowden can't simply fly from Moscow to Copenhagen tomorrow. It's possible that no nations at all will embrace the parliament's proposal. But it sure looks like a good sign for Snowden, and that's certainly how he's taking it: