WASHINGTON/MOSCOW: The United States increased pressure on Russia to hand over former US spy agency contractor Edward Snowden, who Washington believes is in Moscow waiting for news of an asylum request to Ecuador.
Snowden, charged with disclosing secret US surveillance programmes, left Hong Kong for Sheremetyevo airport on Sunday, starting a cat-and-mouse chase that has frayed ties between Washington and Beijing and threatens US-Russia relations.
The American would need a Russian visa to leave the transit area of the airport. The 30-year-old has not been spotted by journalists camped out there.
President Vladimir Putin, who is not shy of celebrating people who challenge Washington, has ignored US requests to send Snowden home but may want him to stay in the airport to avoid being implicated in helping a fugitive.
A spokesman said the Kremlin has no information him, suggesting Moscow does not want to further alienate President Barack Obama, who has tried to “reset” ties with Russia. Putin, a former KGB spy, also favours strong measures to combat terrorism and acts seen as hostile to the state.
“It’s not in Russia’s interests to anger the US just for sake of angering the US,” Russian commentator Anton Orekh said.
The US State Department said diplomats and Justice Department officials were holding discussions with Russia, suggesting they were looking for a deal to secure his return to face espionage charges. (Agencies)
“Given our intensified cooperation working with Russia on law enforcement matters … we hope that the Russian government will look at all available options to return Mr Snowden back to the US to face justice for the crimes with which he is charged,” spokesman Patrick Ventrell told reporters yesterday.
Jay Carney, a spokesman for the White House, said it was Washington’s assumption that Snowden was still in Russia.
Russian officials say they can do little to fulfil the U.S. request to expel him if he is still in the airport transit area and not on Russian territory.
