Snowden in rare talks with Swedish television

Edward Snowden is still in Russia. Photo: TT

US whistleblower Edward Snowden has given his first major interview in six months to a freelance Swedish reporter, ten days after he picked up the Swedish Right Livelihood award, also known as the Alternative Nobel Prize.

The American citizen who has lived in Russia for more than eighteen months after being granted asylum there, told the journalist that he remained too afraid to return to his home country and admitted violating US law.

"If I go home, and I volunteer myself to life in prison, I discourage other people from doing what everyone in the country reasons at this point was the right thing to do, he told the reporter, who produced the interview for Swedish television network SVT,

Snowden went on the run after he leaked top secret NSA documents to journalists. He faces up to three decades in prison in the US forcrimes against national security. Secretary of State John Kerry says the former contractor "damaged his country very significantly."

Snowden very rarely gives interviews, and after he talked to a US television company in May 2014, Kerry demanded that he return home.

"Well I would say if there was fair trial, That would be great, he told SVT.

He criticised current US laws, stating that he would not have the opportunity to make a public interest defence" in the US.

Earlier this month Snowden waswas honoured in Sweden together with Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger, picking up the Right Livelihood award, which recognises those who work to improve the lives of others, but whose backgrounds prevent them from picking up traditional Nobel prizes.

He wasunable to attend the ceremonyin person so instead gave a speech via a video link from his base in Russia.

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Snowden in rare talks with Swedish television