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The translation didn't make things terribly clear for me. It seems the USA is trying to convince Germany to extradite Snowden from Russia...? Is that even a th

The translation didn't make things terribly clear for me. It seems the USA is trying to convince Germany to extradite Snowden from Russia...? Is that even a thing? Russia will agree to extradite people to EU, but not to USA?

johnnyfaehell 10y ago
As far as I know, Russia has never given anyone up.
- kafkaesq 10y ago
  There are plenty of counter-examples to this, in both post-Soviet and more recent times. Basically, the authorities are happy enough to "let someone go" (read: GTFO) once the political cost of keeping them outweighs the perceived benefit.
danbruc 10y ago
Members of the investigation committee for NSA spying activities in Germany wanted to hear Snowden as a witness. This request was blocked by the majority of committee members belonging to the current government parties, officially because they can not guarantee for Snowden's safety, supposedly because Snowden may reveal unpleasant facts about spying activities of the current or former governments. Opposition party members than went to court that now decided that also a minority can request to hear a witness. Now they are planing to again request hearing Snowden on Thursday in the next meeting of the committee. What follows we will see.
deleted 10y ago
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stannol 10y ago
No, a minority in the investigation committee dealing with the revelations around NSA and other foreign intelligence services can now (due to a recent court decision) bring forward a motion to summon Snowden for a testimony to Germany. They will bring it forward to the federal government which will deny the request. The minority will then appeal the decision which will then go to the highest court in Germany. So, nothing will happen for at least several months or even years.
tuetnsuppen 10y ago
I apologize for not offering a better translation. I am also neither a native English speaker nor a German lawyer. But I will try to translate/explain as good as possible. The term 'extradition' may be a bit misleading here. Extradition applies to people who are under arrest or in jail (he is not) and describes the process of transferring people to another country even against their will (which may or may not be the case). As far as I understand the ruling by the Bundesgerichtshof (not the constitutional court in the country, just the highest court in administrative matters) merely says that the NSA special committee of the Bundestag (Federal Parliament) needs to bring forward the request for a hearing of Edward Snowden to the German federal government. From thereon are two possibilities: if the German federal government agrees, they have to allow for a safe transfer. If they don't the case may likely go to the constitutional court.

johnnyfaehell 10y ago

As far as I know, Russia has never given anyone up.

kafkaesq 10y ago
There are plenty of counter-examples to this, in both post-Soviet and more recent times. Basically, the authorities are happy enough to "let someone go" (read: GTFO) once the political cost of keeping them outweighs the perceived benefit.

danbruc 10y ago

Members of the investigation committee for NSA spying activities in Germany wanted to hear Snowden as a witness. This request was blocked by the majority of committee members belonging to the current government parties, officially because they can not guarantee for Snowden's safety, supposedly because Snowden may reveal unpleasant facts about spying activities of the current or former governments. Opposition party members than went to court that now decided that also a minority can request to hear a witness. Now they are planing to again request hearing Snowden on Thursday in the next meeting of the committee. What follows we will see.

deleted 10y ago

[deleted]

stannol 10y ago

No, a minority in the investigation committee dealing with the revelations around NSA and other foreign intelligence services can now (due to a recent court decision) bring forward a motion to summon Snowden for a testimony to Germany. They will bring it forward to the federal government which will deny the request. The minority will then appeal the decision which will then go to the highest court in Germany. So, nothing will happen for at least several months or even years.

tuetnsuppen 10y ago

I apologize for not offering a better translation. I am also neither a native English speaker nor a German lawyer. But I will try to translate/explain as good as possible. The term 'extradition' may be a bit misleading here. Extradition applies to people who are under arrest or in jail (he is not) and describes the process of transferring people to another country even against their will (which may or may not be the case). As far as I understand the ruling by the Bundesgerichtshof (not the constitutional court in the country, just the highest court in administrative matters) merely says that the NSA special committee of the Bundestag (Federal Parliament) needs to bring forward the request for a hearing of Edward Snowden to the German federal government. From thereon are two possibilities: if the German federal government agrees, they have to allow for a safe transfer. If they don't the case may likely go to the constitutional court.