Artists Behind Guerilla Edward Snowden Statue Want it Back from the NYPD

​The three artists responsible for installing a bust of NSA leaker Edward Snowden in a Brooklyn park that was promptly confiscated by the New York City Police Department are demanding it be returned.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Ronald Kuby, a lawyer representing the artists, called on the city to release the statue from police custody.

"Right now the statue is sitting in the 88th precinct," Kuby said. "It is somewhat ironic that as Snowden is in exile in Russia, his statue is being held hostage in the basement of a precinct in New York City."

Although the parks department may have had the right to take down the unauthorized work of art, he said, that does not mean the police have the right to indefinitely keep it.

The artists, who have decided to remain anonymous due to an ongoing investigation, now want the statue to be displayed legally. They plan to submit an application through the Art in the Parks initiative, which temporarily installs artwork in parks throughout New York City.

Geoffrey Croft, president of the non-profit public park watchdog group NYC Park Advocates, also called for the statue's release, saying "there are plenty of other parks that would be appropriate for this."

"Art and the freedom to express ourselves are the cornerstones of our society and they must be protected," he said. "Agreeing with the artistic or political views is not the definition of free speech. It is the protection these views when we do not agree that form the basis of free speech."

As a "compromise," a gallery in Manhattan has agreed to temporarily house the bust while it awaits approval through the program, which could take up to six months. Kuby said they will put a sign on the statue noting it is "on loan from the NYPD."

Kuby read a statement from the artists during the press conference, in which they said they always meant the statue to be a gift to the city and the public.

"Its goal was to inspire thought and discussion over ideas we cherish as Americans and how these values determine who our heroes are," the artists said. "As the artists behind this work, we hope the city will release this statue so it will continue to spark healthy conversations about issues central to our freedoms."

Kuby said the artists are preparing litigation if the police do not return the work of art. He did not say at what point they would move forward with those actions if the NYPD did not comply, but said he will be in talks with the city this week.