TEMPO.CO, Jakarta- Russian President Vladmir Putin finally confirmed the whereabouts of whistleblower and fugitive Edward Snowden. He says Snowden is in the Moscow airport transit zone.
This statement contradicts the previous statement made by the Russian foreign minister saying Russia had nothing to do with Snowden’s travel plans exiting Hong Kong. Putin said Snowden remained in Sheremetyevo airport's transit area and vowed that Moscow would not extradite the whistleblower to the US. He also insisted that Russia's security services had no contact with Snowden, a claim greeted with suspicion.
The White House responded on Tuesday by saying Russia had a "clear legal basis" to expel Snowden, which National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said was the status of his travel documents – the US has revoked his passport – and the pending espionage charges against him.
"Accordingly, we are asking the Russian government to take action to expel Mr. Snowden without delay and to build upon the strong law enforcement cooperation we have had, particularly since the Boston Marathon bombing," she said.
Putin said that Snowden remained in Sheremetyevo's transit hall, although the high-profile whistleblower has not been spotted at all by the dozens of journalists in the airport since Sunday. The airport has also hosted a heightened security service presence since Sunday afternoon.
Putin said taht Russia's security services "did not work and are not working" with Snowden, who fled the United States before leaking documents on secret US surveillance programs. He defended Russia's actions and said that Snowden, possibly carrying untold numbers of government secrets, was treated like any other passenger. Yet passengers at Sheremetyevo usually have only 24 hours to pass through the international transit zone.
"He arrived as a transit passenger – he didn't need a visa, or other documents," Putin said.
Putin lashed out at US accusations that the Kremlin was harboring a fugitive. "Any accusations against Russia are nonsense and rubbish," Putin said.
GUARDIAN | TRIP B
