The author of the activities of US intelligence services Edward Snowden, hiding in Russia, was awarded the Prize of the Norwegian PEN Center named after Karl von Osetsky. This is reported on the website of the organization uniting writers, poets and journalists, on Saturday, April 29. The award was given to Snowden in one of the Moscow hotels by the chairman of the PEN Center, William Nighaard, and Secretary General of Hege Newt Nouri. Norwegian authorities did not give Snowden guarantees of his non-extradition in the US. For this reason, Snowden, who has been in Moscow since June 2013, earlier refused a visit to Norway, where he was awarded a prize named after writer Bjornsterne Bjornson. In July, Snowden's lawyer Anatoly Kucherena advised him to abandon his trip to Norway, as there is an extradition treaty between Oslo and Washington. The US State Department recommended that the Norwegian authorities refrain from inviting Snowden.

A former employee of the NSA in the US is accused of espionage, if he returns to his homeland he faces up to 30 years in prison. Snowden handed over to journalists a number of secret documents on the activities of the American special services, in particular, about tapping of telephone conversations and breaking of electronic correspondence of American citizens and leaders of other countries. After a series of high-profile revelations, Snowden won numerous awards and awards.

Original article: Snowden was awarded the Prize of the Norwegian PEN Center.