The European parliament is asking member states to grant Edward Snowden legal protection, calling him a "human rights defender."
In a resolution that passed 285 to 281 on Thursday, parliament members called on EU member states to "drop any criminal charges" against Snowden. But it goes a step further, asking states to "grant him protection and consequently prevent extradition or rendition by third parties," according to a parliament statement.
Though Snowden called the resolution a "game changer," it will be up to the individual states to enact any portion -- a move that could agitate that country's relations with the United States.
"This resolution is what I'd call more of the type of moral grandstanding that the European Parliament has developed over years," said Jan Techau, director of Carnegie Europe, a foreign policy think tank.
"On foreign policy, the parliament is not very powerful," he said, but the move does reflect a "certain view in Europe, a movement to glorify Snowden and paint him a hero for a good cause."
Parliamentarians who supported the resolution said "too little has been done to safeguard citizens' fundamental rights following revelations of electronic mass surveillance" brought about when Snowden leaked documents he had obtained while working with the National Security Agency.
They also urged the EU Commission to ensure that all data transfers to the U.S. are subject to an "effective level of protection."
Hearing reports EU just voted 285-281, overcoming huge pressure, to cancel all charges against me and prevent extradition. Game-changer.— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) October 29, 2015
Extraordinary. Reports appear to be true. https://t.co/rQtDHfYTyj pic.twitter.com/AfYm86eGwy— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) October 29, 2015
This is not a blow against the US Government, but an open hand extended by friends. It is a chance to move forward. pic.twitter.com/fBs5H32wyD— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) October 29, 2015
In a statement emailed to Mashable, Snowden's legal team said the resolution is "an overdue step."
The White House, meanwhile, says its position "has not changed" and that Snowden should be returned to the U.S. "as soon as possible."
Since leaving his job with the NSA and fleeing the U.S., Snowden, 32, has been living in exile in Russia, where he works for an IT company and studies Russian, according to his lawyers.