Snowden on the run, however, claims for Nobel

Edward Snowden, is a possible Nobel Peace Prize contender for 2020. The former American intelligence contractor, who discovered thousands of documents describing a long-term monitoring programme by the US government, received asylum in Russia in 2013 after being charged with spying and treason by the US.

Former American intelligence contractor Edward Snowden is a possible Nobel Peace Prize contender for 2020.

The 37-year-old is on the run from US authorities after revealing to the media the secret programmes of the National Security Agency (NSA), including e-mails and phone records of a large number of Americans and foreigners, reports Ora News.

As a former CIA employee and contractor at the NSA, Snowden copied secret documents to the NSA office in Hawaii and in May 2013 flew to Hong Kong, where it was released publicly with information. Speaking in a video, Snowden said he couldn't keep quiet about what he saw. The Guardian” and “The Washington Post” published secret documents.

Snowden's findings that the NSA monitored e-mails and phone records of a large number of Americans and foreigners, and a report Washington spying on the European Union, sparked outrage and protests in several countries around the world.

After their publication, Snowden received asylum in Russia in 2013 after being charged with spying and treason. His permission to stay in Russia has now lasted until 2020.

The Reuters agency estimates that the 37-year-old is one of this year's potential contenders for the Nobel for Peace that will be proclaimed in Oslo on Friday, October 9th, at the Norwegian Nobel Institute.