Putin: Russia won't turn over Snowden

But the leaker should stop harming "our American partners"

Published July 1, 2013 3:37PM (EDT)

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would not turn over leaker Edward Snowden to the U.S. but was fuzzier on whether the fugitive can stay in Russia, Reuters reported:

If Snowden wants to stay in Russia he "must stop his work aimed at harming our American partners".

Snowden "is not a Russian agent", Putin said, repeating that Russian intelligence services were not working with the fugitive American, who is believed to remain in the transit area at a Moscow airport eight days after arriving from Hong Kong.

He said Snowden should choose his final destination and go there.


By Alex Halperin

Alex Halperin is news editor at Salon. You can follow him on Twitter @alexhalperin.

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Edward Snowden National Security Nsa Putin Russia Vladimir Putin