Former National Security Agency contractor and whistleblower Edward Snowden was elected Tuesday as the official representative of the student body at the University of Glasgow, according to the Associated Press.
Students at the institution say that they nominated Snowden to make a statement about democratic rights, the AP reported.
"We showed Edward Snowden and other brave whistleblowers that we stand in solidarity with them, regardless of where they are," the students said in a statement, according to the AP.
Snowden has been given temporary asylum in Russia after leaking documents disclosing details of U.S. spies' surveillance of the Internet and telephone communications, the AP reported.
Glasgow students had earlier said they contacted Snowden through his lawyers and he agreed to stand for the position known by the name rector, according to the AP.
Previous rectors at the university include Winnie Mandela, who was elected even though students knew that she would not be able to travel to Glasgow, the AP reported.
Given that Britain has an extradition treaty with the United States, where Snowden is wanted on criminal charges, he will probably not be able to visit the university either, according to the AP.
