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Where can an American go to avoid being extradited back to the US?

Edward Snowden, the contractor identified as the source of leaks about the US electronic surveillance program, may face extradition to the US wherever he goes. Here are six places that have proven that extradition to the US isn't easy.

5. Ecuador

Chris Helgren/Reuters
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange speaking from the balcony of Ecuador's embassy in London, August 19, 2012.

In spite of having signed bilateral extradition treaties with the US, first in 1872 and again in 1939, the bizarre case of Julian Assange seems to show that the political will to hand over whistleblowers is low in the small South American country.

In 2012, while Britain was seeking to extradite Mr. Assange to Sweden to face criminal trials, the now infamous whistleblower found refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy there. Assange sought asylum in the embassy for fear that extradition to Sweden or staying in Britain would lead him into the hands of US officials, putting his life or human rights in danger, he said. Despite pledges from both the British and Swedish governments that this would not happen, Ecuador granted Assange political asylum.

Assange is not the only dissident to seek refuge in Ecuador. Later that year, Belarusian Aliaksandr Barankov was released from prison after an Ecuadorian judge decided that his request for asylum was justified. Mr. Barankov had fled Belarus after uncovering an oil smuggling ring with connections to President Alexander Lukashenko. Considering this track record, Snowden may be safe there from extradition should the US request it.

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Mark Sappenfield
Editor

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