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© REUTERS/ Glenn Greenwald/Laura Poitras/Courtesy of the Guardian/Handout via Reuters
Former employee of U.S. intelligence Edward Snowden on Friday called media reports about his possible extradition to the US “undeniable proof” that he’s not worked for the intelligence service of the Russian Federation.
Finally: irrefutable evidence that I never cooperated with Russian intel. No country trades away spies, as the rest would fear they’re next. https://t.co/YONqZ1gYqm
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) February 10, 2017
“Finally: undeniable proof that I never collaborated with the Russian intelligence service,” he wrote in the microblog in Twitter. According to him, “no country sells their scouts, because the other may fear that they will be next.”
As reported earlier on Friday, the NBC, citing an unnamed representative of the American administration, the US intelligence claims that Russia is considering the transfer of Edward Snowden in the US as a “gift” to President Donald Trump. According to the channel, this information was confirmed by a second source in intelligence circles, referring to the “talk Russian and the data collected after the inauguration of the” trump. One of Snowden’s attorneys, Ben wizner said channel that is not aware of these plans.
Earlier, the former Deputy head of the CIA Michael Morell said that Moscow may make a “gift” Donald Trump, issuing Snowden the United States. He argues that Snowden’s extradition will bring Russia considerable benefits: help to Russian President Vladimir Putin to establish a personal relationship with trump and hurt who resigned as President Obama and will force the world to treat Russia as an equal partner of the U.S., says Morell.
Press Secretary of the President Dmitry Peskov in a recent interview to TV channel bi-Bi-si said that the issue of extradition of Snowden in the US can decide the migration authorities of Russia and personally President Vladimir Putin.
Snowden in June 2013 gave the Washington Post and the Guardian series of secret materials about the programs of surveillance of US intelligence and the UK on the Internet. He flew to Hong Kong and then to Moscow, where some time was in the transit area of the Moscow airport. Russia granted Snowden temporary asylum for one year on the condition that it will cease operations against the United States. The first of August 2014 Snowden received a three-year residence permit, which allows him to travel not only in Russia but also abroad.