Irish Examiner view: The whistleblower who came into the cold

Edward Snowden blew the whistle on mass surveillance but pledging an oath to Russia makes him akin to spy Kim Philby

Edward Snowden has sworn his oath of allegiance to Russia, which has given him shelter for nearly a decade. File picture: The Guardian/Glenn Greenwald/Laura Poitras/AP

It’s easy to understand why the world’s most famous whistleblower, Edward Snowden, has sworn his oath of allegiance to the country which has given him shelter for nearly a decade. 

That the nation happens to be Russia, a pariah for most of the world, does not overrule his requirement for personal protection for himself and his family. Snowden is now a fully-fledged Russian citizen and cannot be extradited.