Robert Tibbo is a Canadian national known for his work as a lawyer in human rights. Previously a chemical engineering graduate from McGill University, he went on to receive his law degree from the University of Auckland, focusing on administrative and constitutional law. Tibbo has been active in wider social advocacy, having previously served as a director of Vision First, an NGO that provides human rights advocacy and humanitarian assistance to asylum seekers in Hong Kong.
He has defended many notable clients including Edward Snowden, the Snowden Refugees, and Xiao Hui. As Snowden’s lawyer, Tibbo successfully secured his safety through the UNHCR in Hong Kong, facilitated his hiding in Hong Kong to avoid extraordinary rendition by the US government, and ensured his safe passage out of Hong Kong to Russia in June 2013. Tibbo has appeared in a number of documentary films including Oscar-winning film “Citizen Four”, and “Terminal F/Chasing Snowden”. He was also portrayed in the Oliver Stone film “Snowden”. As of November 2017, he went into exile from Hong Kong, having had assistance to leave the jurisdiction from Lawyers Without Borders Canada and the Officers from the Canadian Consulate in Hong Kong.
Presently, he continues to act for Snowden (in Moscow) and the Snowden Refugees (in Hong Kong). Tibbo has been responsible for engaging and working with a group of Montreal based lawyers to act and file refugee applications for the Snowden Refugee in Canada. He also continues to act for another forty-plus asylum seekers in Hong Kong.