Russia and US security services ‘in talks’ over US fugitive

27 July BBC

The American FBI and Russian FSB security services are “in talks” over US fugitive Edward Snowden, according to the Russian president's spokesman.

However, Dmitry Peskov repeated Russia's position that it would “not hand anyone over”.

Snowden has been stuck in transit at a Moscow airport for the past month as he has no valid travel documents.

The US Attorney General, Eric Holder, has sought to assure Moscow he would not face the death penalty in America.

Washington wants him extradited for leaking details of surveillance programs.

Peskov did not specify what the nature of the talks between the agencies was. He did, however, remind reporters that President Vladimir Putin had expressed a strong determination not to allow the case to interfere with US-Russian relations.

Putin had not taken part in any discussions with the American authorities over Snowden case, Peskov said.

Snowden “has not made any request that would require examination by the head of state”, Peskov said.

The Russian president has refused to hand him to the American authorities, but said he could stay in Russia only if he stopped leaking US secrets.

Edward Snowden, whose passport has been cancelled by the US, has been in the transit area of Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport since arriving from Hong Kong on June 23 .

His father, Lon Snowden, said on Friday he believes his son should stay in Russia and avoid the US, saying he had been vilified by the Obama administration and members of Congress.

“If it were me, knowing what I know now, and listening to advice of sage people like [Pentagon Papers leaker] Daniel Ellsberg... I would attempt to find a safe haven,” the elder Snowden said in a telephone interview.

On Thursday Snowden's lawyer Anatoly Kucherena denied earlier reports that Edward Snowden had been given Russian travel documents.

Edward Snowden has requested temporary asylum in Russia, and said recently his favoured final destination was Latin America.

In a letter to Russian Justice Minister Alexander Konovalov, Holder said that the charges against Edward Snowden were not punishable by death.

If additional charges were brought which could incur capital punishment, the US would not seek to impose such a penalty, he added.

The Snowden affair has caused diplomatic ructions around the world, upsetting America's close allies and traditional enemies.

Leaks by the former CIA worker have led to revelations that the US National Security Agency (NSA) is collecting Americans’ phone records. On Wednesday evening, an attempt to block funding for the program narrowly failed in a 205-217 vote in the US House of Representatives. The White House had lobbied Congress to support the surveillance.

Opponents of the US, including Bolivia, Venezuela and Nicaragua, have all offered Edward Snowden asylum.