Bolivia’s President Evo Morales (Getty)
Bolivian President Evo Morales was flying in his jet over Europe, from Moscow, when it was announced he was being rerouted to Austria on the suspicion that NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden is hiding onboard.
The plane was also been banned from entering the airspace of Portugal, France and Spain for the same reason.
According to the BBC, President Morales is denied that Snowden is on board. Upon a search of the plane, it was determined that Snowden was not on board. Morales has called the forced landing and search of his plane an “act of aggression” and will be bringing a formal complaint before the United Nations.
Bolivia says France and Portugal denied airspace to plane from Moscow carrying President #Morales, and says #Snowden is not on board
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) July 2, 2013
Edward Snowden has been stuck in the terminal of Moscow’s commercial airport for the last ten days, making asylum requests to dozens of nations and awaiting responses. Thus far his requests have been rejected from:India, Ecuador, Russia, Brazil, Austria, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Poland and Spain. It is assumed that he is still currently in the Moscow airport.
Bolivia officials say Morales' presidential plane denied air permits by Portugal and France – possibly over Snowden case #breaking
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) July 2, 2013
According to reports, France, Spain and Portugal all banned Evo Morales jet from their airspace. Austria, not. NATO-wide anti-Snowden alert?
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) July 2, 2013
The reported actions of France, Portugal and Spain this night will live in infamy.
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) July 2, 2013