Russian President Vladimir Putin has bluntly rejected US pleas to extradite National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden, saying Snowden is free to travel wherever he wants. He also says Snowden is in the transit zone of a Moscow airport and has not passed through Russian immigration, meaning he is not technically in Russia.

Putin made the announcement at a news conference following his meeting with the Finnish president in Helsinki.

Russia's president has brought an end to the mystery over US whistleblower Edward Snowden's whereabouts. For now, he is still in Moscow.

Vladimir Putin, Russian President, said, "Any accusation directed towards Russia is ravings and sheer nonsense. He is a transit passenger and, as such, still remains in the transit lounge."

Putin's comments were the first time that Russia has made clear it knows where Snowden is. But in response to the US request to extradite Snowden, he said Russia has no such an agreement with the US, so it can't meet Washington's request.

Vladimir Putin, Russian President, said, "As far as any sort of extradition is concerned, to wherever it may be, we are only able to hand over citizens of foreign states to those countries with whom we have a corresponding international extradition agreement. We have no such agreement with the United States."

US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday that though the US does not have an extradition treaty with Russia, it wants Moscow to comply with common law practices between countries where fugitives are concerned.

Analysts say Putin's staunch refusal reflects the Russian president's readiness to further challenge Washington at a time when US-Russian relations have already been strained over Syria and a Russian ban on adoptions by Americans.

But Putin denied the speculations.

Vladimir Putin, Russian President, said, "I hope that it will not affect the business-like character of our relations with the US and I hope that our partners will understand that."

Snowden arrived in Moscow from Hong Kong on Sunday. He booked a seat on a Havana-bound flight on Monday en route to Venezuela and then possible asylum in Ecuador. But he didn't board the plane.

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