Putin: US traps Snowden in Russia
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E-mail China.org.cn, July 16, 2013
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday the U.S. National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden was trapped by Washington in the transit area of Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport.
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Edward Snowden (middle) appears in a meeting with human rights groups at Moscow airport. [Xinhua] |
![Edward Snowden (middle) appears in a meeting with human rights groups at Moscow airport. [Xinhua]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20130716/001372acd6e1134ee52202.jpg "Edward Snowden (middle) appears in a meeting with human rights groups at Moscow airport. [Xinhua]")
"They (the U.S. authorities) scared off all other countries, so no one wants to accept him (Snowden). So, in effect, they've blocked him on our territory themselves," Putin said at a meeting with local students.
"He has arrived in our territory without invitation, he didn't fly to us, he arrived as a transit passenger to other countries," Putin said.
Putin said that Snowden will leave the country when opportunity emerges.
But he added: "Eventually, he wants to move to a permanent residence in another territory."
"As soon as the opportunity appears to move somewhere, he of course will do that," he said.
When asked to comment on Snowden's future, Putin said, "How can I know that? This is his life and his fate."
Putin also made it clear that Moscow is not going to harm its relations with the United States, and that Snowden could only continue with his human rights activities "without our involvement."
The conditions for (Russia) granting him political asylum are known to him. And judging by his latest actions, he is shifting his position. But the situation has not been clarified yet."
At a meeting with human rights activists on Friday Snowden said he was seeking temporary asylum in Russia until he can travel safely to Latin America, where three countries have said they might take him in.
The former U.S. National Security Agency contractor, who has been charged with espionage for revealing the secret U.S. electronic surveillance program Prism, has been caught in legal limbo in the international transit zone of Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport since he arrived there from Hong Kong on June 23.
He has sent requests for political asylum to 21 countries. Most of them turned down his request and Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua said they are ready to accept him.
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