Snowden and the German committee of enquiry

[renke]

As a follow-up on:

Snowden invited to testify in Germany (with safe passage) over NSA spying

The parlamentary committee of enquiry did invite Snowden in 2013, but the government blocked it - they weaseled around it, based on “cannot guarantee Snowden’s security” and “the US would be mad at us”.

The committee on the NSA affair sued the government, and the Bundesgerichtshof (highest ordinary court in Germany) decided that the government has to invite Snowden as a witness and ensure his security - the rights of the parliament are more important than the national interests as seen by the executive.

High court: Snowden must come to Berlin

…interesting times, I have no idea how the government will react…

[renke]

@renke

decided that the government has to invite Snowden as a witness

as better reporting comes in: this is not exactly the content of the court ruling. the government is forced to give a real and binding answer if the committee asks again to invite Snowden as a witness.