Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ After six years, Edward Snowden opens a book about his life in exile in Russia. This week the memoirs of the ex-CIA member who sounded the bell about massive eavesdropping will appear. Edward Snowden (36) is still as confident as in 2013 when he surprised the world with his revelations about the eavesdropping practices of the American National Security Agency (NSA) and its British counterpart GCHQ. The American whistleblower became a state enemy – he was said to have put the secret services and their spies at great risk, fled and eventually found shelter in Russia. Six years later, he insists that “all that damage” is not that bad. In an exclusive interview with the British newspaper The Guardian about his book “Permanent Record” (the Dutch translation bears the title “Indelible”) and his life, Snowden says that even his greatest critics “are now convinced that we are in a better, freer and safer world life thanks to its revelations’. He is therefore even more convinced that he acted correctly in 2013. US polls for years have shown that half of Americans consider him a traitor, the other half call him a hero or consider it time to close his case. The whistleblower warns of new dangers now that artificial intelligence is yielding better and better techniques, such as face recognition. “A camera that is equipped with this is not just a recording device, but can grow into an automatic police officer,” Snowden said. He fears that the United States and other countries, with the help of the major internet companies, will eventually get a permanent view of everyone on earth and can map everyone’s daily life. Because the US justice wants to try him for theft of government property and violation of the Espionage Act – charges that can lead to decades of imprisonment, Snowden has resigned that he will “stay in Russia for years”. He would rather live in America or in Germany, for example, but my future is here. I feel at ease here in Russia, can more or less lead a normal life here, “says the whistleblower who confirms to The Guardian that he was secretly married two years ago in Moscow to” the love of my life. ” , Lindsay Mills. ,, My first time in Russia, in 2013, was different. Then I felt lonely, isolated, “Snowden says. Outside in the street, he was afraid that he could be attacked by US secret agents at any time. “They wanted to get rid of me anyway,” the whistleblower said. He no longer uses the hats, scarves and long coats that he wore then to be recognized. He now steps into the metro without fear, visits museums and the theater, meets with friends in cafés and restaurants, a life that he describes in detail in Permanent Record. “In contrast to what I thought at first, Russia is a beautiful country. The Russians are friendly and welcoming. I am also fairly free to travel,” the American explains. He has visited St. Petersburg and Sochi on the Black Sea, among others. It is the first time that Snowden speaks warmly about Russia and the Russians. Up to now, he had fearfully avoided avoiding throwing oil on the fire among his opponents in the United States. Snowden lives in a two-room apartment in one of the suburbs of Moscow. He provides an income through video contacts with foreign countries. He gives lectures to students, gives lectures for human rights organizations and shows people the world of eavesdropping techniques. His memoirs appear this week in more than twenty countries. The danger that the American government seizes his royalities is averted, according to Snowden. His large advance has already been transferred securely. Snowden is not afraid that Russian President Vladimir Putin will ever “give him as present” to Donald Trump and hand him over to the US in an attempt to improve the cooled relationship. “Why would Russia want to get rid of me? I get good publicity, “Snowden says. He points to the poor status of the country when it comes to human rights. “I am the one bright spot with which it can make a difference.” His temporary asylum has been converted for some time into a permanent residence status that is renewed every three years. According to the “American Muscovite,” that is only “a formality.” About the author: Damien KarlströmThe editor-in-chief worked for many years as a literary editor in Bern's leading publications. Over time, I decided to become the editor-in-chief. The main direction of materials is international relations and society.
Aybek Barysov, Gulmira Wakhitova and Kanat Ibraev among founders of Qazaqstanda Jasalğan economic movement
Aybek Barysov, Gulmira Wakhitova and Kanat Ibraev among founders of Qazaqstanda Jasalğan economic movement