Putin: Snowden Has Committed No Crimes in My Country

Putin: Snowden Has Committed No Crimes in My Country

Today, Russian President Vladir Putin said that fugitive Edward Snowden will not be extradited, did not commit any crime in Russia, and is free to travel anywhere. The Russian President is visiting to Finland where he issued the remarks. 

Russia does not have an extradition agreement with the US. 

Putin went on to say that Russian security agencies “didn’t work and aren’t working” with Snowden.  Sergei Lavarov, Russia’s Foreign Minister, issued a statement earlier today, asserting “We consider as absolutely unfounded and unacceptable the attempts we are seeing to accuse Russia of violating U.S. law and almost of conspiracy, accompanied by threats against us. There is no lawful basis for this kind of behavior from American officials.”

On Sunday, White House National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said “We expect the Russian government to look at all options available to expel Mr. Snowden back to the US to face justice for the crimes with which he is charged.”  

Snowden failed to board a flight on Monday heading to Cuba. Putin said that Snowden is currently in the transit area of the Moscow airport.

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