US intelligence whistle-blower Edward Snowden has hailed a European Parliament vote urging EU member states to take him in and offer protection as an “extraordinary” gesture of support.

In a resolution on Thursday EU parliamentarians called on the bloc’s 28 member states to grant protection to Snowden as a “human rights defender” after he blew the lid on the US government’s mass surveillance programs.

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In a tweet, Snowden said the vote was “extraordinary”.

“This is not a blow against the US government but an open hand extended by friends. It is a chance to move forward,” he said in a second tweeted message.

MEPs urged member states to “drop any criminal charges against Edward Snowden, grant him protection and consequently prevent extradition or rendition by third parties, in recognition of his status as whistle-blower and international human rights defender”.

Snowden has been living in exile in Russia since June 2013 and faces US charges of espionage and theft of state property which could put him in jail for 30 years.

He says he was doing his duty as a citizen by informing others about the surveillance programs which scooped up massive amounts of personal data in the name of national security.