Putin Comments on Snowden's Asylum Request

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　　Russia Russian President Vladimir Putin has made his response to NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden's request for temporary asylum¹ in the country.

 

　　Putin didn't give a clear answer on whether the request would be accepted but stressed that the relationship between Russia and the United States is more important than any intelligence scandal.

 

　　Putin has reiterated² his claims that Snowden is not planning to stay in Russia for long, hinting the U.S. citizen is not welcome in the country.

 

　　The Russian Federal Migration³ Service has confirmed it has received an application for asylum from Snowden.

 

　　The whistleblower has been stuck in the transit⁴ zone of Moscow's Shere/met/yevo airport since he arrived on a flight from Hong Kong on June 23rd.

 

　　According to Russia's Federal Migration Service, Snowden could be transferred from the transit zone to the department's temporary shelter for refugees while waiting for the authorities' decision.

 

　　Meanwhile the White House has issued a statement, once again calling on Russia to hand over Snowden.

 

　　White House spokesman Jay Carney:

 

　　"Our message has been clear and consistent in this regard and Mr. Snowden has all of the rights that every American citizen charged with a crime in the United States has and he should be returned here where he can stand trial and take advantage of those rights so that's the conversation we are having with foreign governments and that's the conversation we're having with our Russian counterparts."

 

　　The White House contends Snowden is neither a human rights activist⁵ nor dissident.

 

　　The White House has urged the Russian government to deny the asylum request and hinted that it will hold Putin accountable for the decision.

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