The Russian foreign Ministry has called absurd the statements on the possible extradition of Snowden USA
Moscow. 15 Feb. INTERFAX.RU — the Russian foreign Ministry called absurd media reports on the possible extradition of former CIA employee Edward Snowden as a “gift” for the new President of Donald trump.
“The Russian side has commented on the different levels of the absolute absurdity of such statements,” — said the official representative of the Russian foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova on a Wednesday briefing in Moscow.
She cited as an example of fake news reports by the American media, claiming that Moscow is considering the possibility of extradition of fugitive ex-employee NSA and the CIA Snowden in the United States as a gift to the new American leader Trump.
“This is not the first time the U.S. media published references to certain unnamed sources. First, no one has applied to the Russian side for confirmation or refutation to the publication of this information,” said Zakharov.
Edward Snowden a few years ago, released classified material on intelligence activities, which caused a number of international scandals. In particular, it became clear that the national security Agency of the USA listened to phone conversations of 35 high-ranking officials of different countries, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel. In the US, Snowden in absentia charged with espionage and theft of government property.
Snowden left the US and settled in Hong Kong in may 2013. Then he released information about secret operations of U.S. intelligence by spying on the Internet and listening to telephone conversations in various countries.
From 23 June to 1 August 2013 Snowden was in the transit area of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport. He could not fly to Cuba because of the fact that his passport revoked by the U.S. authorities. 1 August 2013 Snowden received a document granting him temporary asylum for one year and the same day left the airport.
The former national security Agency employee received a residence permit in Russia for three years August 1, 2014. Snowden officially has a job in Russia, under Russian law is the basis for obtaining a residence permit.
18 January 2017, the official representative of Russian foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said that the Russian authorities extended the Snowden residence permit in Russia for another two years.