Putin: US Trapped Snowden in Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday accused the United States of trapping US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden in Moscow, saying he would leave Russia as soon as possible.Snowden

“As soon as there’s the chance to move somewhere he will certainly do this,” Putin said in televised remarks. “He arrived on our territory uninvited, he did not fly to us, he was flying in transit to other countries,” Putin said.

“But as soon as he was in the air, it became known, and our American partners essentially blocked off his further flight.”

Snowden had met Friday with several rights activists and lawyers at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport, where he is stranded. Snowden arrived in Moscow from Hong Kong on June 23 and the US revoked his passport the same day.

“They themselves scared off all the other countries, no one wants to take him, and therefore they essentially themselves trapped him on our territory,” Putin said. “A nice gift to us for Christmas,” he told Russian reporters travelling with him on a visit to the island of Gogland in the Gulf of Finland.Putin

Snowden had withdrawn his initial application after Putin said earlier this month that Snowden could claim asylum in Russia only if he stopped his leaks. When Snowden announced Friday he was renewing his application, he said he had promised not to harm US interests in the future.

“Judging by his latest statement, he is somewhat changing his position,” said Putin. “But the situation has not been finally clarified so far.”

Putin is set to host US President Barack Obama for a bilateral summit in Moscow followed by the G20 summit in Saint Petersburg in early September.

Putin said Russia had made its position clear to Snowden. “We have certain ties with the United States. We do not want you through your activity to damage our ties with the States.” Snowden had vowed to continue his activism, said Putin.