Fugitive Edward Snowden trapped in Russia - Putin
The US authorities have in effect trapped fugitive intelligence leaker Edward Snowden in Russia, President Vladimir Putin has said. But Mr Putin said Mr Snowden would leave if he was able to. ■ The former intelligence analyst has been offered asylum in a number of Latin American states, but has no documents with which to leave the transit zone at Moscow airport. The US has charged Mr Snowden with leaking classified information. Mr Putin has refused to hand over the fugitive to the US authorities, but says he can only stay in Russia if he stops leaking secrets about US surveillance schemes. He said there were signs that Mr Snowden was "changing his position". However, he added that Mr Snowden did not want to stay in Russia but wanted to take up residence in "another country". ■ Asked what Mr Snowden's future was, the Russian president said: "How should I know? It's his life." "He came to our territory without invitation. And we weren't his final destination... But the moment he was in the air... our American partners, in fact, blocked his further flight," he said. "They have spooked all the other countries, nobody wants to take him and in that way, in fact, they have themselves blocked him on our territory."
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